Take heart, the donors will not cut aid to Uganda

Aug 11, 2010

EDITOR: I did not know whether to laugh or cry when I read the story that donors had slashed aid to Uganda by at least 10%, citing Government failure to address high-level corruption.

EDITOR: I did not know whether to laugh or cry when I read the story that donors had slashed aid to Uganda by at least 10%, citing Government failure to address high-level corruption.

They expressed concern over the Government’s failure to take action against several high-level corruption cases, especially the recommendations from the 2008 CHOGM audit reports. This is classic gesture politics, which the donor countries throw out for public relations purposes whenever elections are approaching.

For example, on December 20, 2005, the then British Secretary of State for International Development, Hilary Benn, told the House of Commons that he had decided to reduce UK budget support to Uganda by £20m because Uganda had delayed putting in place the legal basis for multiparty elections.

He also cited the arrest and trial of the leader of the Forum for Democratic Change, Dr Kizza Besigye. However, the aid was reinstated soon after the 2006. This was despite the fact that the Uganda Supreme Court had observed there were irregularities in the electoral process. Let us be clear about diplomats and the politics of aid.

According to 'The Diplomat's Dictionary' by Chas Freeman Jr, a diplomat is a "decent fellow who is trained and sent abroad to lie for his government in return for honour". Freeman also asserts that annual subsidies and subvention (foreign aid) are a time-honoured means of assuring the loyalty of client states.

Rich states have given subsidies and other forms of economic aid to allies for political and strategic reasons since the earliest recorded history. Such aid is usually given as rent for bases and material facilities, or to induce support for policy and donor power.

In other words, the donors need Uganda more than Ugandans need them, and Ugandans should treat this latest threat to cut aid with contempt and ignore it. The aid will be reinstated and it will be business as usual!

Sam Akaki
London

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