Japan has not yet committed itself
Oct 02, 2006
SIR — On September 20, the NewVision published an article entitled “Japan to fund power projectsâ€. The article seems to mislead the readers into believing that the Japanese government has already decided to support the rural power projects in Uganda.
SIR — On September 20, the NewVision published an article entitled “Japan to fund power projectsâ€. The article seems to mislead the readers into believing that the Japanese government has already decided to support the rural power projects in Uganda.
We would like to make our stand on this matter clear. Although the article says “the Japanese government is to spend about $500,000 in support of micro-hydro generation projects for rural electrification in the countryâ€, the Japanese government has made no such commitment.
It is true the Japanese Embassy has been requested to support the micro-hydro generation project at Sezibwa falls by the Mukono District Council, using the Grant Assistance for Grassroots and Human Security Project (GGP) scheme. We have not, however, received any official proposal yet. Therefore, no decision has been made about the project.
Furthermore, the maximum limit of the GGP is up to $90,000, not $500,000. The “Japanese delegation†reported in the article is actually a private-based research team dispatched by Tanaka Hydraulic Machinery Works Company to evaluate the feasibility of micro-hydro generation in Uganda, and has no official relations with the Japanese government.
During their stay in Uganda, the Japanese Embassy had an opportunity to talk with them and was requested to support the project at Sezibwa site. If an official and proper proposal is submitted, therefore, we will earnestly consider supporting the project.
Katsuya Yanagida
Second Secretary
Embassy of Japan
We would like to make our stand on this matter clear. Although the article says “the Japanese government is to spend about $500,000 in support of micro-hydro generation projects for rural electrification in the countryâ€, the Japanese government has made no such commitment.
It is true the Japanese Embassy has been requested to support the micro-hydro generation project at Sezibwa falls by the Mukono District Council, using the Grant Assistance for Grassroots and Human Security Project (GGP) scheme. We have not, however, received any official proposal yet. Therefore, no decision has been made about the project.
Furthermore, the maximum limit of the GGP is up to $90,000, not $500,000. The “Japanese delegation†reported in the article is actually a private-based research team dispatched by Tanaka Hydraulic Machinery Works Company to evaluate the feasibility of micro-hydro generation in Uganda, and has no official relations with the Japanese government.
During their stay in Uganda, the Japanese Embassy had an opportunity to talk with them and was requested to support the project at Sezibwa site. If an official and proper proposal is submitted, therefore, we will earnestly consider supporting the project.
Katsuya Yanagida
Second Secretary
Embassy of Japan