Govt to dialogue with donors over aid cuts

Mar 04, 2014

Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi has said the Government will engage with development partners over the fallout on the anti-homosexuality law.

By David Lumu
 

Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi has said the Government will engage with development partners over the fallout on the anti-homosexuality law.

“These are our friends; they have been supporting us for a very long time. I am sure that through engagement and dialogue, we will reach some understanding and that our relationship will stabilise and take a normal course,” he said yesterday.

Addressing journalists at his office, Mbabazi said the donors should understand that the process that gave birth to the Anti-Homosexuality Act was democratic and that cutting aid is not the “right thing to do”, especially when it is they who always preach democracy.

“We have heard and in some cases been informed that some of the support we have been receiving from our development partners will be withheld because of the anti-homosexuality law. Of course it is not a nice thing to do. I don’t think they are doing the right thing because they are the ones who preach democracy to us. So, what is democratic about this (threats to cut aid)?” Mbabazi pondered.

However, Mbabazi insisted that if aid cuts are effected, the Government will re-adjust the budget and prioritise. He, however, insists that: “It (cutting of aid) is something we would love to avoid.”

At the same press briefing, Mbabazi also unveiled the new communication strategy for the Office of the Prime Minister. Under the strategy, the Prime Minister will be holding regular weekly press sessions where ministers and other key stakeholders will dispense information about their sectors.

Mbabazi introduced Josephine Mayanja-Nkangi as the new press secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister.

She will be co-ordinating these meetings. On the never-ending question of contesting in 2016, Mbabazi re-echoed his earlier position that he would not stand against President Yoweri Museveni.

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});