Independence Day Celebration, July 1, 2005

REMARKS BY AMBASSADOR JIMMY KOLKER
Kampala, Uganda
July 1, 2005

Hon. Minister for Works, Transport and Communications
Honorable Ministers and Members of Parliament
Diplomatic Colleagues
Distinguished guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
 
The staff of the American Embassy in Uganda joins me in welcoming you to this celebration of America's 229th anniversary of independence.
 
This will be my last July 4 in Uganda.  I’ve enjoyed everything about the 33 months that I have had the opportunity to be Ambassador here.  I cannot imagine ever having another job I will love as much as this one. 
 
One reason is that I've been able to visit every part of Uganda - 46 of the 56 districts so far -- although if you keep creating new districts, I'll surely never get to all of them.
 
In every region and village, from Kaabong to Kabale, Arua to Tororo – and in Kampala -- I have been warmly welcomed and made to feel at home.    The friendship and generosity of each individual I've met here will remain with me, and for that I thank each of you.
 
Relations between the United States and Uganda are more friendly, wide-ranging and successful than ever.  In February, we moved virtually our entire embassy to Mbarara to emphasize how our programs of cooperation extend outside the capital and directly affect the lives of all Ugandans.
 
Honorable Minister,

Over the past two years, my government has been able to triple the amount of money we spend here to fight HIV and AIDS.  With our help, testing is now available throughout Uganda and at more than 200 sites, pregnant mothers are able to prevent transmission of HIV to their newborns.  Tens of thousands of people now have access to life-saving anti-retroviral drugs.  Every primary school child in the country is reached with prevention and life skills messages.  And families that care for HIV positive members as well as orphans have greater access to services and resources.
 
Uganda will be one of the first countries to benefit from President Bush’s commitment this week of additional funds to fight malaria. 
 
And the United States has been more active than ever in encouraging Uganda's private sector and financial institutions, improving the quality of primary education, providing humanitarian assistance and upgrading the professional skills of Uganda's military and police.  We are also working with you Hon. Minister, in telecommunications and information technology.
 
U.S. investment in Uganda could be further encouraged by improved intellectual property rights enforcement, the approval of anti-money-laundering legislation, and, of course, more vigorous efforts to root out and punish corruption at all levels.
 
Regrettably, the situation in northern Uganda remains worrisome.  The dire conditions of Ugandans in displaced persons camps should concern us all.  President Museveni's efforts, through the mediation of Betty Bigombe, to bring the war to a peaceful end remains the best hope for those Ugandans who are terrorized by the Lord's Resistance Army, but at the same time often feel neglected by their own government and security forces.   
 
Honorable Minister; Ladies and Gentlemen
 
As many of you know, in 1971, I lived for four months in a student dormitory at Makerere University.  Idi Amin had just overthrown Milton Obote, and, strange as it may seem today, the Makerere campus and Uganda as I experienced it at the time was alive with the possibilities of political renewal.  President Museveni noted just last week how his relatives and neighbors welcomed Amin with cattle and cheers.
 
The optimism and hopes of that time were short-lived, not because of bad choices made by the Ugandan people, but because their leaders let them down.  For fifteen years, Uganda was governed by brutality with disregard for human rights and the rule of law.
 
Since 1986, by contrast, Uganda has been well led.  Uganda has returned to international respect.  Ugandans have begun to realize their economic and human potential. 
 
But in 1971, Uganda seemed such a pleasant place that as a 23-year-old graduate student, I didn't pay much attention to the warning signals that indicated trouble ahead. 
 
Uganda of 2005 is much different from 1971.  But we must be alert to some red warning lights that are flashing: 
 
One warning signal is that in privatizations, procurement decisions and budget allocations, politicians too often put personal and political advantage, including outright greed, ahead of the national interest.
 
Another worrying sign is that violence, intimidation and threats remain a regular feature of Uganda's politics.  It is no secret who was responsible for storming a Democratic Party meeting in Kabale, breaking up a PAFO rally in Jinja, preventing Members of Parliament from speaking in Pader and Gulu or destroying party cards in Luweero.

Yet no one has been arrested or disciplined for these criminal acts.  Freedom of expression; freedom of association; freedom of assembly are sacred principles in any serious democracy.  Until Ugandans exercising those rights are protected and those violating them are punished, Uganda's democracy will be incomplete.

The July 28 referendum offers political leaders and would-be leaders of this country an opportunity to explain to all of us their vision for democracy -- how the Ugandan people will be involved in the choice of policies and leaders. 

The Movement is portraying the referendum on change of system as a chance to remove critical politicians from the institutions of government, so that their influence can be diminished still further. 

At the same time, leaders of the opposition are pretending that Uganda's decision whether to adopt a multi-party system is of no consequence at all and are boycotting the referendum. 

In America, we believe that political competition improves government policies and gives citizens more voice.  Sadly, no one is providing that positive vision of Uganda’s political future.
    
Honorable Minister, Ladies and Gentlemen
 
I have been privileged to live in Uganda twice.  My country is not going to give me a third term.  So this is my opportunity to urge Ugandans to put the national interest ahead of personal advantage, respect the rights and opinions of others, and to put to rest for good the nation’s tragic history of political conflict.
 
The United States stands ready to work with the government and people of Uganda to realize the political, economic and human potential of this great country. 
 
Thank you all for being with us tonight, and please join me in a toast to the health of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the people of Uganda.