30 October 2007
U.S. Development Engagement with Uganda
October 30 release from State Department
(begin fact sheet)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
For Immediate Release
October 30, 2007
2007/944
FACT SHEET
United States Development Engagement with Uganda
The United States, in close partnership with the Government of Uganda, seeks to eradicate poverty through results-based assistance focused on the following key areas: (i) peace and security; (ii) governing justly and democratically; (iii) health and education; (iv) economic growth; and (v) humanitarian assistance. In FY07, the United States provided over $263 million, through USAID and the State Department, to Uganda. President Bush requested $329 million for Uganda in FY08. This will result in the provision of more than $500 million in assistance to support Uganda’s development efforts. USAID recently established a regional office in Gulu district (northern Uganda) to further improve program implementation, donor and government coordination, and monitoring of development conditions.
Peace and Security
Lord’s Resistance Army Peace Process: Through USAID and the State Department, we are working with the Ugandan government to support the peace process. USAID helps to fund deliberation by legal experts and institutions on proposals for implementing the agreed principles on accountability and reconciliation from the Juba Peace talks. USAID programs are also focusing on promoting reconciliation at the local and national level in Uganda.
Improved Policing in Northern Uganda: We are working with the Ugandan police to increase security in northern Uganda through: (i) the development of a forensic laboratory to enhance criminal investigations and prosecutions; (ii) enhanced community policing; and (iii) reducing the illicit trafficking in conventional weapons.
Protection of Internally-Displaced Persons (IDP) Camps: Through USAID and the Combined Joint Task Force for the Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), we are providing security assistance to improve protection in IDP camps in northern Uganda. CJTF-HOA also constructs bore holes for communities in northern Uganda without access to water.
Reintegration of Ex-Combatants: Through USAID, we support the reintegration of ex-combatants in northern Uganda.
Army Professionalization: Through USAID, we will continue ongoing efforts to promote professionalism and civic cooperation in Uganda's downsized military. Past assistance successfully focused on working with the Uganda People’s Defense Force (UPDF) to improve human rights and community protection.
Counterterrorism: Due to Uganda's strategic location and porous borders, the United States works with the Ugandan government to deny terrorist sponsorship and sanctuary.
Governing Justly and Democratically
Good Governance: Through the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), we recently approved a $10 million program to support anti-corruption activities in Uganda. The program aims to improve public procurement and financial management practices, increase the effectiveness of criminal investigations and prosecutions, and strengthen the role of civil society.
Elections: Through USAID and the State Department, we will help Uganda to prepare for elections in 2011. These activities will support strengthened democratic representation and civil society, increased public awareness, and improved political competition.
Investing in People
Health: We help to combat tuberculosis, promote nutritional practices, and provide supplementary feeding for malnourished youth and support orphans and vulnerable children.
Education: Through the Africa Education Initiative (AEI), we support curriculum reform, teacher training, and girls’ secondary school scholarships. AEI has trained nearly 9,000 teachers in conflict-affected areas in northern Uganda.
Malaria: Through the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) we are working to provide malaria prevention and treatment activities to 85 percent of vulnerable groups and reduce malaria-related deaths by 50 percent. Since January 2006, the PMI has distributed over 770,000 insecticide-treated bed nets, sprayed 330,000 homes, and distributed 260,000 doses of anti-malarial medication.
HIV/AIDS: Through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), we are providing anti-retroviral treatments to 101,000 Ugandans. This has enabled the Ugandan government to provide near universal access to these life-saving drugs. U.S. annual assistance to Uganda for HIV/AIDS has increased from $38 million in FY03 to $236 million in FY07.
Economic Growth
Agriculture: Through USAID, we are helping to improve agriculture production through crop diversification, export promotion, and productivity improvements.
Environment: Through USAID, we are reducing threats to biodiversity in the Albertine Rift and northern Uganda regions forming the Eastern Afromontane biodiversity hotspot. These activities work to conserve critically endangered species, such as the mountain gorilla.
Humanitarian Assistance
Emergency Assistance: Through USAID, we continue providing critical assistance to IDPs in northern Uganda. In FY07, USAID provided $13 million to facilitate the return of IDPs and to maintain ongoing IDP camps. These activities focus on water, sanitation, and food security.
Emergency Food Assistance: Through USAID, we are distributing emergency food assistance in collaboration with the World Food Program and private voluntary organizations. USAID is a leading provider of food assistance to conflicted-affected areas in northern Uganda. In 2007, it provided approximately 64,210 metric tons of emergency food aid for 270,000 returnees in northern Uganda districts. In addition, USAID has contributed $19 million in non-emergency assistance for health, nutrition, agriculture interventions.
Refugees: Through the State Department, we are providing humanitarian assistance to IDPs in northern Uganda and to refugees from Sudan and Congo as necessary. The State Department has provided more than $7 million to support refugees in Uganda.
(end fact sheet)
