GOAL critical of Uganda funding

AID agency GOAL has criticised the Government’s continuing funding of Uganda because of its involvement in the Congolese war and human rights violations.

Yesterday Junior Foreign Affairs Minister Tom Kitt announced that €826,610 in grant aid to help human rights and democratisation projects will be given to developing countries.

Among the countries that will benefit from the Human Rights and Democratisation Scheme are: Colombia, Burundi, Kenya, the Sudan, Peru, Brazil and Guatemala.

GOAL chief executive John O’Shea said yesterday he could not comment on this latest round of grant aid until he had a chance to study the various regimes that are being funded.

However, he has repeatedly called on the Government to reduce the €30 million it has provided in aid to Uganda this year.

“Uganda is involved in a Congolese conflict that has seen over three million people die in the past five years - that is the highest death toll since WWII. There is a moral imperative on the Government to stop funding this corrupt regime,” Mr O’Shea said.

The €30m originally allocated to Uganda has been reduced by €10m since GOAL started its campaign.

Announcing yesterday’s grants Mr Kitt said the promotion of respect for human rights and good governance was an essential part of policy. The aim of the scheme is to support small- scale projects which help awareness raising, training and capacity building.

And it also helps local communities to understand and access the institutions of government.

The grants given to Colombia, Burundi and Kenya will help promote the rights of women and children.

And other grants given to Sudan and Kenya will help projects that are trying to strengthen the democratic process for marginalised people. The remaining grant aid will go towards communities projects in Peru, Brazil and Guatemala.