| Premier calls key ministers over crisis |
| By Mercy Nalugo |
| KAMPALA — Prime Minister Apolo Nsibambi has called key Cabinet ministers to a meeting to discuss growing donor concerns over the political transition, human rights violations, and grand corruption. The meeting, scheduled for Friday, is expected to come up with “a harmonised position” on issues as raised last week by the Donor Democracy and Governance Group (DDGG). Nsibambi’s May 12 letter to the National Political Commissar, and the ministers of Finance, Foreign Affairs, Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Internal Affairs, General Duties in the Office of the Prime Minister, and the State Minister for Ethics and Integrity followed a strong May 11 letter from Danish Ambassador Stig Barlyng. Mr Barlyng is the chairman of the DDGG, which comprises envoys of Austria, Belgium, Britain, Canada, the EU, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United States as well as the U nited Nations Resident Representative. Issuing an ultimatum couched in diplomatic language, Barlyng told Nsibambi that the decisions that the government takes on the political transition, human rights, corruption, and other governance issues agreed on with the donors in the past “might influence our development partnership.” The thinly veiled warning to the government not to take donor aid to Uganda for granted prompted Nsibambi to call Friday’s meeting with the key ministers . When The Monitor sought a comment from Barlyng over the hard stance they have taken on the government, he said their letter was private and addressed to the Prime Minister. “We are just requesting a meeting with the Prime Minister. The concerns raised will be coming up (in the meeting) but I have no comment before we present them to the Prime Minister,” Barlying said. Barlyng’s letter said the donors would like to discuss with the government “developments notably linked to the politi cal transition, protection of human rights and the fight against corruption.” It said the conflict in northern Uganda, which has been a key donor concern, should be left for a future discussion. “On political transformation in Uganda we would like to discuss matters related to the questions of securing a ‘level playing field’ for all political forces in the country,” wrote the chairman of the donor group. “The topic would include the proposed referendum and how the government plans the campaign for securing a yes-vote,” and “how to secure sufficient space for the public debate (permission for meetings, rallies, etc).” Parliament recently passed a motion authorising the Electoral Commission to hold a referendum on political systems. Although the ruling Movement has said it will campaign for a return to multi-party politics following pressure from donors and those who felt “conscripted” into the Movement, some key officials including Presidential Adviser Kakoo za Mutale have said they will campaign against the return to pluralism. The donors also want to talk about “the repercussions of the recent arrests of two FDC members, Mr Ronald Reagan Okumu and Mr Michael Ocula,” and the “recruitment of 4,000 extra police personnel to properly oversee the July referendum and the elections in March 2006.” The two MPs who are on remand in Luzira Prison were arrested on murder charges last month and were yesterday committed to the High Court for trial. The opposition insists the case was politically motivated, but the government maintains that the State has evidence linking the two MPs to the murder of an LC3 chairman in Pabbo, Gulu. The donors are also concerned that the Ministry of Finance has budgeted for the Movement Secretariat in the coming Financial Year “even after the likely introduction of a multi-party system in Uganda.” The opposition has in the past complained about funding for the Secretariat, especially after the Constitutional Court ruled that the current Movement is a political party. Barlyng also asked the government to address donor concerns raised about Kakooza Mutale’s Kalangala Action Plan. |
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