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By Emmy Allio
JIMMY Kolker, the ambassador of the United States of America to Uganda, has said his country is committed to helping Uganda to bring an end to the terror and atrocities being inflicted by the Lord�s Resistance Army rebels (LRA) in northern Uganda.
He said the US is re-starting a modest programme of military training and assistance to improve the UPDF�s capacity �to protect and defend the civilian population.�
The envoy was speaking in Kampala on Friday during the 227th anniversary of the independence of his country from Britain. Present were diplomats, ministers, MPs, senior army officers, religious leaders and other dignitaries. The Third Deputy Prime Minister, Henry Kajura, represented the Government.
Kolker hailed Uganda for the support to the USA and the United Kingdom to defeat Saddam Hussein in Iraq.
He said America wants to reciprocate by helping Uganda to end the conflicts in northern Uganda, Congo, Sudan and Burundi.
�Uganda
also has the chance this year, 2003, to put in place the procedures and institutions that will ensure a vibrant political evolution, leading to something Uganda has never known before...a peaceful handover of power from one leader to another,� Kolker said.
Kajura said Uganda was proud of benefiting from $15b the USA government has disbursed for an emergency plan for HIV/AIDS relief.
US president George Bush, who arrives in Uganda on Friday, has said the disbursement of the $15b is top on the agenda of his African tour.
Kajura said, �We hope the new initiative to help reduce transmission of HIV/AIDS from mother to child, which is spearheaded by USA will be a success in Uganda.�
He said the Government was committed to fighting terrorism and hailed the US government for its support to the Universal Primary Education (UPE), Teacher Development Programme and the Education Strategy Investment Plan.
Kolker said the USA annually contributes $40m towards AIDS education,
prevention, care and treatment in Uganda.
�We are building capacity to fight money-laundering and corruption in Uganda,� the ambassador said, adding that improvement in human rights and democracy were vital in sustaining Uganda achievements.
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Published on: Monday, 7th July, 2003 |
