Konrad boss snubs aid cut proposals
Sep 12, 2003
THE Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAF) country representative, Wolfgang Hilberer, has snubbed calls by opposition leaders that donors cut off aid to Uganda to force President Yoweri Museveni to open political space for pluralism.
By Henry Mukasa and Anne Mugisa
THE Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAF) country representative, Wolfgang Hilberer, has snubbed calls by opposition leaders that donors cut off aid to Uganda to force President Yoweri Museveni to open political space for pluralism.
He said Uganda is a sovereign country, whose people and leaders must determine its destiny.
“Sorry,†Wolfgang said to calls by political activists that donors cut aid to Uganda like it was done to Kenya and Tanzania to force a move from one party to pluralism.
“That is a wrong understanding of partnership,†he added.
He said Uganda is a sovereign country with an elected president and that Ugandan better understand what they want. He said the opposition must distinguish between a political system and elections of a president.
“It will be an illusion if our structures one to one from the so called developed world are transferred wholly to Uganda,†he said.
The KAF boss said this while closing a half-day seminar on the theme; Conditions for a democratic transition in Uganda held at Hotel Africana on Thursday. The seminar was organised by Foundation for African Development (FAD) and funded by KAF.
Wolfgang said Ugandans should not waste time discussing the “so called third term†but a smooth transition.
“If the President wants to stand in 2006, he will. Anyone who wants to become a president has to beat him at the polls. What you should be discussing is having free and fair elections, without rigging, violence and intimidation,†he said.
He said the incumbent should enter dialogue and have respect for the opposition because “the government of today is the opposition of tomorrow†and vice versa.
Wolfgang told the opposition leaders and political party activists to respect the incumbent president for their wish to rule that country to bethat they must show to the donors that the transition will be smooth.
He criticised UPC youth who earlier said President Yoweri Museveni was arrogant. “Do you know how difficult it is to govern a country? I know its difficult to govern Uganda a country with many interests,†he said.
THE Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAF) country representative, Wolfgang Hilberer, has snubbed calls by opposition leaders that donors cut off aid to Uganda to force President Yoweri Museveni to open political space for pluralism.
He said Uganda is a sovereign country, whose people and leaders must determine its destiny.
“Sorry,†Wolfgang said to calls by political activists that donors cut aid to Uganda like it was done to Kenya and Tanzania to force a move from one party to pluralism.
“That is a wrong understanding of partnership,†he added.
He said Uganda is a sovereign country with an elected president and that Ugandan better understand what they want. He said the opposition must distinguish between a political system and elections of a president.
“It will be an illusion if our structures one to one from the so called developed world are transferred wholly to Uganda,†he said.
The KAF boss said this while closing a half-day seminar on the theme; Conditions for a democratic transition in Uganda held at Hotel Africana on Thursday. The seminar was organised by Foundation for African Development (FAD) and funded by KAF.
Wolfgang said Ugandans should not waste time discussing the “so called third term†but a smooth transition.
“If the President wants to stand in 2006, he will. Anyone who wants to become a president has to beat him at the polls. What you should be discussing is having free and fair elections, without rigging, violence and intimidation,†he said.
He said the incumbent should enter dialogue and have respect for the opposition because “the government of today is the opposition of tomorrow†and vice versa.
Wolfgang told the opposition leaders and political party activists to respect the incumbent president for their wish to rule that country to bethat they must show to the donors that the transition will be smooth.
He criticised UPC youth who earlier said President Yoweri Museveni was arrogant. “Do you know how difficult it is to govern a country? I know its difficult to govern Uganda a country with many interests,†he said.