The Taoiseach is likely to discuss concerns over alleged human rights abuses and corruption when he meets Ugandan president Mr Yoweri Museveni this afternoon at Government buildings.
Mr Museveni is in Dublin today for a series of bilateral meetings. This morning, he met the Minister for State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Mr Tom Kitt, to discuss recent concerns about Ireland's development aid programme to Uganda, a spokesman said.
|
|
Mr Tom Kitt and President Museveni
|
A spokesman said the meeting with the Taoiseach was "primarily on trade issues post Cancun", referring to the recent round of World Trade Organization talks.
Development organisations working in Uganda, including Goal, have expressed serious concerns over how Irish taxpayers' funds are being used in that country and over Uganda's involvement in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Uganda, with a population of around 25 million, is one of the poorest countries in the world. Mr Museveni has been credited with developing its mainly agricultural economy with the help of international aid.
But a UN report in 2001 criticised the activities of a number of Ugandans in connection with the exploitation of the resources of the DRC. The governments of Zimbabwe, Rwanda, the DRC itself and Angola were also criticised for such exploitation.
The head of Goal, Mr John O'Shea, has called on the Government to end its €30 million in annual direct funding to the Ugandan government.
Already this year, Ireland cut €10 million in funding to Uganda. The money will be put into a special fund to tackle poverty instead.