Report

The Canada–Africa Parliamentary Association was represented by the Honourable Raynell Andreychuk, Senator, Co-Chair of the association; the Honourable Mauril Bélanger, PC, MP, Co-Chair of the association; the Honourable Paul J. Massicotte, Senator; Mr. Ted Menzies, MP; Ms. Johanne Deschamps, MP, Vice-chair; and Mr. Pat Martin, MP.  The delegation was assisted by Mr. Rémi Bourgault, Executive Secretary of the association, and Mr. Michael Dewing, Analyst for the association.

OBJECTIVES

The Canada–Africa Parliamentary Association undertook bilateral visits to the United Republic of Tanzania (Dar es Salaam and Arusha) and the Republic of Uganda (Kampala and Gulu) from 2 to 8 September 2007.  The visits had the following objectives:

·         to strengthen bilateral relations

·         to engage parliamentarians on democracy and governance

·         to strengthen relations with regional organizations

·         to learn about Canada’s role in East Africa from Canadian diplomats and personnel from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)

·         to meet with non-governmental organizations that have links with Canada.

To meet these objectives, the delegation met with Tanzanian and Ugandan parliamentarians, members of the Pan-African Parliament and the East African Legislative Assembly, senior officials of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, Ugandan government officials, United Nations officials, representatives of non-governmental organizations, Canadian diplomats, representatives of Canadian companies, and local journalists.  It also visited an urban health clinic in Tanzania and a rural internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in Uganda.

During its meetings, the delegation emphasized that it included members from all political parties in the Senate and the House of Commons.  The delegation held dialogues with its African counterparts on accountability and corruption, the representation of women, the role of the opposition, the role of regional organizations, peace and security, and ways in which Canadian parliamentarians could be of assistance.

THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA:  KEY ISSUES

Although Tanzania is one of the world’s poorest countries, it has made considerable progress since becoming a multi-party democracy in 1992.  It is a relatively stable multi-lingual, multi-ethnic, and multi-religious country, and has been spared the internal conflict that has plagued neighbouring states.  It has held three general elections, which, despite some problems in Zanzibar, were generally considered to have been well run.  The economy grew an average of 5.8% per year between 2000 and 2006, ⁽¹⁾ and Tanzania has made progress in the areas of primary education, water, child health, and combating HIV/AIDS.  Tanzania is committed to the objectives of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) and is participating in NEPAD’s African Peer Review Mechanism.⁽²⁾

Of course, many challenges remain.  To give some examples, corruption continues to be a concern – Tanzania ranks 94th on the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index 2007⁽³⁾ – and malaria kills over 100,000 people each year and is the leading cause of death among children.⁽⁴⁾  Power supplies are erratic and are insufficient to meet demand.

An important regional actor in the East Africa, Tanzania is a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC).  Many Tanzanians have concerns, however, about plans to turn the EAC into an East African political federation.  At their 6th Extraordinary Summit on 20 August 2007, the EAC heads of state agreed to delay the political federation and to concentrate on establishing a common market and a monetary union by 2012.⁽⁵⁾  Also unresolved is the question of Tanzania’s overlapping membership in two regional organizations – the EAC and the SADC.

Tanzania is involved in conflict resolution in Rwanda and is host to the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR).  Tanzania has harboured hundreds of thousands of refugees from neighbouring countries.

Canada and Tanzania have cooperated on development since the late 1960s.  Today, Tanzania is one of the 25 development partner countries (14 of which are in Africa) in which CIDA concentrates the major part of its bilateral assistance.  Indeed, Canada has contributed more than $1 billion in development assistance since Tanzania’s independence in 1961; annual contributions have risen from about $9 million in 2000 to $62 million in 2007-2008.  In 2002, Canada wrote off a $83.6 million debt owed to it by Tanzania.  In 2003, the two countries signed an agreement permitting duty-free access to Canada for virtually all goods produced in Tanzania.  A number of Canadian mining and energy companies are active in Tanzania, where they have made investments estimated at $2 billion.

CIDA programming in Tanzania focuses on governance, health and HIV/AIDS, education, and private sector development, with gender equality and the environment as cross-cutting themes.  Canada works with the Government of Tanzania and other donors to improve the effectiveness of aid interventions.

Canada and Tanzania work together in the Commonwealth and the United Nations.  As well, Tanzania was first Chair of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region.  This is supported by the Group of Friends of the Great Lakes Region, which Canada co-chairs.  In addition, Canada supports Tanzania through the Military Training Assistance Programme.⁽⁶⁾

A.  Meetings in Dar es Salaam, 3 September

Meeting with the Honourable Anna Abdallah, Chair, Foreign Affairs Committee

Ms. Anna Abdallah holds one of the 75 special seats reserved for women.  She is a member of the governing Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), and previously held several government portfolios, including Minister of Health and Minister of Works.

Ms. Abdallah began by reviewing the political history of Tanzania.  She then discussed the constitutional changes being considered to increase the representation of women in Parliament from not less than 30% – as now required – to 50%.

In dialogue with the delegation, Ms. Abdallah described how the Tanzanian Parliament chooses its committee chairs and Speaker, and discussed budget processes, with particular focus on the role of committees.  Ms. Abdallah praised the help Canada has given the Tanzanian Parliament, such as assistance in revising its Standing Orders.  She said, however, that Tanzanian parliamentarians still need to learn more about how other parliaments function.  Other questions from the delegation concerned the role of women in public life and Tanzania’s participation in regional organizations, such as EAC and SADC.  In closing the session, Ms. Abdallah said she would look into forming a Tanzania–Canada Parliamentary Association.

Meeting with the Honourable Ambassador Gertrude Mongella, President of the Pan-African Parliament

As well as being first president of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), Gertrude Mongella is a constituency member of the Tanzanian Parliament for the ruling CCM.  She previously served as Minister of Tourism and as Ambassador to India.  In 1995, she was Secretary-General of the UN Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing.

President Mongella began by discussing the evolution of the PAP since its inaugural session in 2004.  She noted that she initially had no staff or resources.  The PAP has worked to establish good relationships with national parliaments, which have limited resources to facilitate the five members they send to the PAP.  She also talked about the need to harmonize laws among the various African countries.  Using the examples of migration and conflict, she said the PAP should have legislative powers to deal with such issues.

President Mongella then discussed the situation in Tanzania.  She said Tanzania had accepted the concept of 50% representation by women, but still had to work out the details.  In response to a question on poverty reduction and reaching the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), she stressed the importance of education, particularly for girls.  She said primary education is no longer a problem and gender balance is being achieved, but Tanzania needs more secondary schools in order to achieve the MDGs.  President Mongella also discussed Tanzania’s challenges in promoting maternal health.  When asked how Canada could help, she stressed the need for rural development and the need for teachers, nurses, and midwives.

Working Lunch with Representatives of Canadian Commercial Interests

Acting High Commissioner Reid Sirrs hosted a luncheon at the Canadian Residence to which representatives of Canadian companies were invited.  These companies included:  Artumas Energy Tanzania Ltd., Barrick Gold Tanzania, IAMGOLD Tanzania Limited, Major Drilling Tanzania Limited, Tanzania Telecommunications Co. Ltd., CPCS Transcom Ltd., TECSULT International Ltd., and Développement international Desjardins (DID).

During the luncheon, the company representatives described their business ventures, gave overviews of business and investment conditions, and discussed the challenges of working in Tanzania.  Among these are the lack of infrastructure, the shortage of electricity, and cultural differences.  The participants also talked about corporate social responsibility, such as the impact of energy projects on local communities and the hiring of local people by Canadian businesses.  The conversations also touched on the state of agriculture in Tanzania, the need for education and training, and the differences between the Canadian and Tanzanian financial services sectors.

Visit to the Mennonite Economic Development, Associates (MEDA) Office and Project

The delegation visited the Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) Tanzania office to learn about a project for distributing vouchers for insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITNs).  Malaria is the leading killer in Tanzania.  Pregnant women and children under the age of five are the most at risk, and the ITNs over their beds protect them from the mosquitoes that carry malaria.

MEDA is an association of compassionate business women and men who invest in the lives of families living in poverty around the world.  Although MEDA has been a CIDA partner for more than 20 years, this is not a CIDA-funded project.  MEDA is the logistics contractor for the Government of Tanzania’s National Voucher Scheme.  Known as Hati Punguzo, the program prevents malarial infection in pregnant women and infants by distributing vouchers for ITNs.  Using the vouchers, the women provide a small top-up amount of about one dollar to obtain their nets at a commercial outlet.  In addition to encouraging the use of ITNs, the program also increases awareness about malaria and supports private-sector development, especially in rural areas.

At the MEDA office, the delegation met with Mr. Tim Piper, the MEDA Country Manager, as well as with several project coordinators.  The delegation learned about the system for tracking the vouchers, which allows MEDA to monitor the program, down to the clinic level.  Some 4,300 clinics and 5,000 retailers participate in the program, and about 2.6 million vouchers have been redeemed.  Anecdotal evidence indicates that the incidence of malaria is dropping.  In addition, more women are coming to clinics to be checked, and they are coming in earlier in their pregnancies.

The delegation then visited the Magomeni Reproductive and Child Health Centre, where they met with the head of the clinic, Dr. Ester Mwantum, and her staff.  The delegation also met about a dozen young women who were picking up their vouchers and accompanied some of them to a near-by pharmacy, where they used their vouchers to buy nets.  By following a voucher from the MEDA office to the clinic, and then to a pharmacy where it was used to purchase an ITN, the delegation got a glimpse of how a relatively small project can affect the lives of some of Tanzania’s most vulnerable people.

B.        Meetings at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in Arusha, 4 September

Arusha is the seat of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), which was created by the United Nations Security Council in 1994 to prosecute persons responsible for the Rwandan genocide.  Its three trial chambers and an appeals chamber are composed of 16 independent judges.  The Office of the Prosecutor is responsible for collecting evidence and for prosecuting all cases before the Tribunal.  The Registry is responsible for the Tribunal’s administration.⁽⁷⁾

The first trial at the ICTR started in January 1997.  As of May 2007, the ICTR had handed down 27 judgments involving 33 accused.  Of these, 28 persons were convicted and five acquitted.  In addition to the 33 persons whose cases had been completed and two cases (involving a total of five persons) that were at the judgment-writing stage, 22 accused were involved in nine trials, eight detainees were awaiting the commencement of their trials, and 18 indicted persons were still at large.  Under the ICTR’s completion strategy, it expects to have completed trials involving 65 to 70 persons by the end of 2008 and expects to finish its work by the end of 2010.⁽⁸⁾

Meeting with Justice Hassan Bubacar Jallow, Prosecutor, ICTR, and Staff from the Office of the Prosecution

Before joining the ICTR, Justice Hassan Bubacar Jallow served as Gambia’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, as a Judge of Gambia’s Supreme Court, and as a judge in the Appeals Chamber of the Special Court for Sierra Leone.  The Security Council first appointed Justice Jallow as the Prosecutor of the ICTR in 2003.  In September 2007, it renewed his appointment for another four-year term.

Justice Jallow began the meeting with the delegation by explaining that people from 90 nationalities were involved in the ICTR, and that it based its work on all the world’s major legal systems, including common law, civil law, and Islamic law.  The delegates pointed out that the work of the ICTR was of interest to Canada because of the Rwandan community there and because of the war-crimes trial of a Rwandan taking place in Montréal.

Justice Jallow said that Canada had been very supportive of the ICTR’s work.  He noted that many of the senior staffs were Canadian, that Canada had assisted with the relocation of witnesses and their families, and that the ICTR had worked closely with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on investigations.  He elaborated on problems relating to the relocation of families.

Justice Jallow went on to discuss the ICTR’s plans, saying that it expected to finish trials by the end of 2008, and then hear appeals until 2010.  He hoped to refer to other countries the cases of 16 suspects who were still at large.

In response to questions from the delegation, Justice Jallow and his staff discussed the ICTR’s completion strategy, which involves identifying the severity of the offences.  Given the large number of perpetrators and the limited amount of time, those charged with less severe offences will be referred back to national jurisdictions.  The criteria for judging the severity of an offence include the political status of the accused, the extent of participation in the offence, and the nature of the offence.  Regarding the latter, the ICTR is especially interested in prosecuting cases involving sexual violence.  About 100 people meet the criteria for having committed a severe offence.

Justice Jallow also discussed the ICTR’s legacy, particularly with regard to the families of witnesses.  He said that if they have to live in hotels for years before being resettled or are not protected from revenge attacks, this would set a bad precedent for future tribunals, and witnesses would be reluctant to cooperate.

Justice Jallow went on to describe the challenges involved in using three languages at the ICTR – English, French, and Kinyarwandan.  He and his staff talked about the system for protecting the identity of witnesses, the problems in locating suspects in other countries, the sharing of information about suspects with other countries, and the precedents being established by the ICTR, particularly in cases involving sexual violence.

Meeting with Mr. Adama Dieng, Registrar, ICTR

Prior to joining the ICTR, Mr. Adama Dieng was Registrar of the Supreme Court of Senegal and Secretary General of the International Commission of Jurists.  He was appointed Registrar of the ICTR in 2001.

Mr. Dieng began by thanking Canada for its support.  He went on to talk about the nature of the Rwandan genocide, the need for reconciliation, and the role of the ICTR in fostering that reconciliation.  He reviewed the ethnic situation in Rwanda and Burundi and discussed the effectiveness of measures to reduce tensions, such as power-sharing.

In response to questions from the delegation, Mr. Dieng reviewed the situation of the detainees and the cases of Rwandan journalists who were tried for genocide or hate propaganda.  He also gave details about the ICTR’s budget, as well as its structure and the way it operates.

Meeting with Judge Dennis C.M. Byron, President of the ICTR

Judge Dennis C.M. Byron, from Saint Kitts and Nevis, was Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court.  Judge Byron arrived at the ICTR in 2004 and was elected President in May 2007.  Judge Byron is also President of the Commonwealth Judicial Education Institute, located in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Judge Byron opened the meeting by discussing the work of the ICTR, which he said had been effective in observing its UN mandate.  He then went over issues related to the closure of the ICTR, which is expected in 2010.  These involved staff retention and re-assignment and the long-term need to protect witnesses.

In response to questions, Judge Byron described how the ICTR collects and manages evidence and discussed the difficulties involved in evaluating the credibility of witnesses.  He also explained how both the common-law and civil-law traditions were used by the ICTR in the admission of evidence.

Following the meeting, the delegation visited a courtroom.

C.  Meetings at the East African Legislative Assembly in Arusha, 4 September

Arusha is also the seat of the East African Community (EAC) and the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).  The EAC is a regional organization comprising representatives of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, and Rwanda.  The first three have English as an official language and common-law traditions.  In July 2007, they were joined by Burundi and Rwanda, which have French as an official language and civil-law traditions.

The EALA is made up of 27 indirectly elected members – nine from each of the original states – and five ex-officio members.  They are chosen by the national assemblies of the partner states.  They are obliged to represent a diversity of views and to include female members.  With the addition of Burundi and Rwanda to the EAC, the number of EALA members will increase by 18 to a total of 45.  The first EALA was inaugurated in 2001, and the second held its first sitting in June 2007.⁽⁹⁾

Meeting with the Honourable Abdirahin Abdi, Speaker of the EALA

The Honourable Abdirahin Abdi is a Member of the Parliament of the Republic of Kenya.  He was a member of the first EALA from 2001-2006, and was elected unopposed as Speaker in June 2007.

Speaker Abdi began by going over the history of the EAC.  He reviewed the structure of the EALA, described the way its members are selected, and discussed its funding.  Speaker Abdi then explained the challenges presented by the inclusion in the EALA of Rwanda and Burundi.  These challenges include the need for capacity-building.  He also went over the EAC’s integration process and how EALA legislation applies in the member countries.

In response to questions, Speaker Abdi elaborated on the EAC’s relations with the European Union, the operation of the EAC’s customs union, and its relations with the Pan-African Parliament.

Meeting with Members of the EALA Standing Committee on Communications, Trade and Investments

The delegation then met with the Standing Committee on Communications, Trade and Investments, which was holding its first meeting of the new session.  The delegation was welcomed by the chair of the Committee, the Honourable Catherine N. Kimura.

In an open dialogue with the delegation, Ms. Kimura and the Committee members described the meeting’s agenda, which dealt with the examination of three bills.  They also discussed customs policy within the EAC, the trade in services, and the move to a common market.  The Committee members also talked about the challenges of incorporating Rwanda and Burundi into the EAC, and the impact on the region of trade with China and South Africa.

THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA:  KEY ISSUES

Like Tanzania, Uganda is one of the world’s poorest countries and has made considerable progress in recent years.  It has been relatively stable with the exception of Northern Uganda since President Yoweri Museveni came to power in 1986.  Multi-party democracy was established in 2005, and elections were held in February 2006.  Over the past two decades, Uganda’s economy has performed well, with per capita income growth averaging 3.2% per annum.  In addition, Uganda has made significant progress in reducing poverty, educating children, and combating HIV/AIDS.⁽¹⁰⁾  Uganda is a member of the EAC and has expressed interest in speeding up the process of integration.

Significant challenges remain, however.  Two decades of civil war in northern Uganda, involving the cult-like Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), cost tens of thousands of lives and forced some two million people into camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs).  In 2006, the government and the LRA began peace talks in Juba, Sudan, and signed a truce.⁽¹¹⁾  The peace talks have made progress, but the indictment of five LRA commanders by the International Criminal Court has prevented the two sides from reaching a final peace agreement.⁽¹²⁾

Uganda’s fledgling democracy faces serious challenges as well.  Prior to the 2006 election, the leader of the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Dr. Kizza Besigye, was arrested and charged with treason, terrorism, and rape.  A court adjourned his trial to allow him to participate in the elections, and he was subsequently acquitted of rape.  His treason trial resumed in June 2007.

In March 2007, Ugandan judges staged a week-long strike to protest the re-arrest on new charges of six opposition supporters who had been charged with plotting a rebellion with Dr. Besigye and who had been granted bail.  The government said the six were re arrested on separate charges.  In response to the judges’ strike, President Museveni said the police would implement more transparent procedures for re-arresting suspects released by the courts.⁽¹³⁾

Uganda’s other challenges include the high rate of population growth, the unresolved conflict in the North, natural disasters such as the recent flooding, and power shortages.  Corruption continues to be a concern:  Uganda ranks 111th on the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index 2007.⁽¹⁴⁾

Canada began providing development assistance in Uganda in 1965.  Today, CIDA focuses exclusively on basic education.⁽¹⁵⁾  Canada is also involved in helping the Government of Uganda bring an end to civil war in the North, and has contributed to a variety of stabilization and peace-building projects.  The largest contribution – $1.5 million –  went to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), in support of the Juba peace talks.⁽¹⁶⁾

Canada’s interests in Uganda are represented by the High Commission in Kenya, but a political counsellor – Mr. Bryan Burton – has been assigned to Kampala to coordinate efforts related to the Juba peace talks.  Canada cooperates with Uganda through the Commonwealth.  In November 2007, Uganda will be hosting the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), and was putting a great deal of effort into making it a success.

A.  Meetings in Kampala, 6 September

Meeting with the Right Honourable Apolo Nsibambi, Prime Minister and Chancellor of Makerere University

The Right Honourable Apolo Nsibambi has been Prime Minister of Uganda since 1999.  Prior to that, he was Minister of Education and Sports and Minister of Public Service.  He is also Chancellor of Makerere University, a position he will leave in October 2007.

Prime Minister Nsibambi began by reviewing Uganda–Canada relations.  He gave an overview of developments in northern Uganda and discussed the impact that the recent discovery of oil in western Uganda will have on the country.

In response to questions from the delegation, Prime Minister Nsibambi elaborated on the negotiations with the LRA.  He also discussed Uganda’s involvement in the EAC.  On the question of corruption, Prime Minister Nsibambi talked about Uganda’s leadership code, the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (which is led by an opposition member), and the Inspector General of Government.  He also explained why some opposition members had been re-arrested following their release on bail.

In closing, Prime Minister Nsibambi said Canadian parliamentarians could help Uganda by organizing exchanges and training parliamentarians.

Meeting with the Honourable Edward Ssekandi, MP, Speaker, Parliament of Uganda

The Honourable Edward Ssekandi has been Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda since 2001, prior to which he had been Deputy Speaker for three years.  He has been an MP since 1996.

In a meeting that was open to the media, Speaker Ssekandi began by giving an overview of Uganda’s parliamentary history and the make-up of the current Parliament.  In response to questions from the delegation, he discussed the way in which the Members representing groups such as labour, youth, and persons with disabilities are chosen.  He explained the Parliament of Uganda’s relationship with the Pan-African Parliament and the East African Legislative Assembly.  He also discussed the functioning of Uganda’s multi-party system, including the role of committees, the funding of political parties, the working of budget procedures, and the standing of the opposition parties.

Meeting with Mrs. Kabakumba Labwoni Matsiko, MP, Government Chief Whip and Other National Resistance Movement (NRM) MPs

Mrs. Kabakumba Labwoni Matsiko is Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Government Chief Whip.  She is a constituency Member and has been a MP since 1996.  She was accompanied by several other MPs from the governing National Resistance Movement (NRM).

In a meeting that was open to the media, Mrs. Kabakumba began by describing her role as Government Chief Whip, the relations between the NRM and the opposition parties, and the role of party caucuses.  Pointing out that party politics are new to Uganda, she talked of the need to build the capacities of MPs.  She said that Canada could help Ugandan MPs learn how multi-party democracies work.

In response to questions, Mrs. Kabakumba discussed the selection of party candidates and campaign financing.  On the subject of transparency, she described the operation of the special anti-corruption courts and parliamentary committees such as the Public Accounts Committee.  She also explained the enforcement of party discipline, the operation of parliamentary administration, and methods for increasing the representation of women.

Meeting with Professor Morris Ogenga Latigo, MP, Leader of the Opposition and Other Opposition MPs

Professor Morris Ogenga Latigo of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) is the leader of the Opposition in Parliament.  He first became an MP in 2001.  He was accompanied by Mr. Kassiano Ezati Wadri of the FDC, Mr. Erias Lukwago of the Democratic Party, Mr. John Livingston Okello Okello of the Uganda Peoples Congress, and Ms. Susan Nampijja of the Conservative Party.

In a meeting that was open to the media, Professor Ogenga Latigo said that at the institutional level, despite excellent support from parliamentary staff, Uganda was not yet ready for opposition parties.  He said the biggest challenge was convincing the public of the need for the opposition to be given space in the political process.  He then described the opposition’s oversight role in the Public Accounts Committee.  He also talked about problems outside Parliament, such as ongoing court cases against members of the FDC.

Mr. Okello Okello talked about the kinds of reform Uganda needed, such as a more independent electoral commission and the ability for opposition parties to hold rallies without police interference.  Mr. Lukwago said that institutional reforms were needed to separate the NRM from the institutions of the state and that a multi-party system cannot operate if the opposition parties are seen as enemies of the state.  He then talked about problems the opposition parties had encountered, such as the banning of rallies, which prevented them from reaching the electorate.  Ms. Nampijja said the fragmented opposition parties needed to learn how to work together.  Mr. Wadri noted that young people had no experience with a multi-party system.  He criticized the media for being a mouthpiece for the government and for being uncritical.

In the dialogue that followed, the opposition leaders said they would like to meet the Commonwealth Heads of Government when CHOGM is held in Kampala, and asked for help in requesting such meetings.  They said the opposition parties’ main challenges are lack of exposure and lack of capacity.  In addition, party financing is a problem in that contributors risk being seen as treasonous if they make a donation to an opposition party.

The delegation’s meetings with the Speaker and opposition MPs were the subject of newspaper stories the following day in the Daily Monitor (Kampala) and The New Vision (Kampala).

Meeting with Professor Maggie Kigozi, Executive Director, Uganda Investment Authority

Professor Maggie Kigozi is a medical doctor by profession.  In 1999, she was appointed Executive Director of the Uganda Investment Authority, the government body that promotes and facilitates investment in Uganda.  She is also an Associate Professor at Makerere University and Chancellor of Nkumba University.

Prof. Kigozi began by describing the work of the Uganda Investment Authority, giving an overview of Uganda’s investment climate and reviewing commercial relations with Canada.  In discussion with the delegation, she described the requirements for foreigners to invest.  She talked about the need to complete and computerize the land registry, the operation of the courts, expropriate rules, and royalty arrangements for the petroleum industry.  She also spoke about regional plans for infrastructure, the benefits of belonging to the EAC, and the progress being made toward a political federation.  She reviewed the security situation in western and northern Uganda, and spoke about government procurement procedures.  Prof. Kigozi also talked about the investment opportunities in the telecommunications industry.

B.  Meetings in Gulu, 7 September

Meeting with Mr. Esteban Sacco, Head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Sub-office in Gulu

Mr. Esteban Sacco welcomed the delegation to the OCHA sub-office in Gulu, the second-largest town in Uganda, located about 300 km north of Kampala.  He reviewed the security situation in northern Uganda, which he said is continuously improving.  He pointed out that people no longer need a military escort to visit the IDP camps, and that the people in the camps are able to leave the camps to work their land.  People are also moving into smaller camps closer to their homes.

In response to questions, Mr. Sacco discussed land ownership, traditional methods of conflict resolution, and the state of development in northern Uganda, which has lagged behind the rest of the country.  He explained the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in filling gaps in the delivery of social services, as well as the role of the OCHA in identifying those gaps and forging a consensus on how to address them.

Meeting with NGO Partners

The delegation then met with representatives from eight NGOs working in northern Uganda, each of which made a short presentation.

·         Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief (CPAR) works in the areas of child and maternal health, sanitation, HIV/AIDS, livelihood support, and land mine risk education.  It also targets land mine survivors, and builds huts for people with disabilities.  In addition, it has a peace-building project aimed at youth leaders.

·         Peace for All International (PFAI) is funded by donations from the Canadian public.  It works on restocking livestock, distributing grinding mills for maize, and supporting youth in peace-building.

·         Christian Children’s Fund Inc. (CCF) works on civil society development, focusing on livelihood restoration, gender-based violence, home-based care, child protection, and water and sanitation.  It received money from the Government of Canada’s Global Peace and Security Fund (GPSF).  Its main concern is the lack of follow-up in the funding of projects, as in the example of a project it had expected to run for a year, but for which the funding was not renewed after three months.

·         American Refugee Committee International (ARC) focuses on IDPs, managing camps and monitoring people who are returning to their homes.  Using GPSF money, it ran a conflict-prevention pilot project for three months, but its proposal for further funding was not accepted.  The ARC representative said this was difficult for the partners and that work can be wasted when there is no follow-up.

·         ActionAid International Uganda (AAIU) works in partnership with the GPSF to help women in IDP camps get access to justice.  It teaches women about the legal services available and helps establish police kiosks.

·         Associazione Volontari per il Servizio Internazionale / Voluntary Association for International Service (AVSI) is an Italian organization that received funding from the GPSF for land mine risk education.  It helps land mine survivors economically, and helped some of them form a pottery project.  With its second instalment of funding, it is buying office equipment for the survivors’ group to help them market their pottery.

·         World Vision is involved in peace-building, education, land mine action, water and sanitation, and the social reintegration of formerly abducted children.  It works on peace and reconciliation projects, instructing cultural leaders and training people on land issues and the way to resolve disputes.

·         War Child Canada is involved in a CIDA-funded project called the Northern Uganda Child Legal Defense Project.  It funds advocates within the Uganda Law Society who speak out for children’s rights in the justice system in Uganda, and provides legal aid for disadvantaged youth.  It is conducting a baseline survey to assess the situation regarding children’s rights and is developing training manuals.

Working Luncheon ith Col. Walter Ochora, Resident District Commissioner for Gulu District and Norbert Mao, Local Council Chairperson for Gulu District

Col. Walter Ochora is a retired army officer who is the Government of Uganda’s Resident District Commissioner for Gulu District.  Mr. Norbert Mao is the Chairperson of the Local Council and a former MP.

Col. Ochora began by describing his career.  He headed a coup that overthrew former President Milton Obote in 1985 and was a rebel with the Uganda People’s Democratic Army, which fought President Museveni for five years.  Subsequently, he took an active role in the peace process and now provides a link between the government and the LRA.

Col. Ochora then gave an overview of the situation in northern Uganda.  In an open dialogue with the delegation, he discussed the measures that would need to be taken to convince people that the peace agreement is real, such as bringing LRA soldiers home.  He also talked about the Sudanese government’s involvement with the LRA and the ways in which the LRA leaders could be brought to justice, such as through the use of traditional methods.  He then touched on the problems that will remain after the peace accord is concluded.  He gave the example of a girl who comes out of the bush with four children who are not accepted by the girl’s parents.  Without a tribe, these children will have nobody to look after them.

Visit to Koch Goma Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp, Amuru District

The delegation was driven down a muddy road to the Koch Goma IDP camp, about 24 km southwest of the town of Gulu in neighbouring Amuru District.  There they met the camp leaders and local aid workers and were given a tour of the camp.  Over 10,000 people live there, but most of the people left in the camp that afternoon were children and elderly people.  The others had travelled to their farmlands, which are about six kilometres away.

During their visit, the delegation heard about the health problems in the camp – such as malaria, respiratory tract infection, and diarrhea – and the shortage of drugs at the local health centre.  They learned about the very basic schooling available, with two teachers for 200 pupils in grades one to five.  They also heard about problems with elephants destroying crops and with land mines and unexploded ordinance.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The delegation attended briefings presented by Canadian officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and the Canadian International Development Agency in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Kampala, Uganda; and Nairobi, Kenya.

The delegation attended a dinner in Dar es Salaam hosted by the Honourable Anna Abdallah, MP, a dinner in Kampala, with Mr. Timothy Pitt, Head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA) in Uganda, and a reception in Nairobi with Kenyan academics and journalists hosted by Mr. Bhupindar Liddar, Canadian Deputy Permanent Representative to UNEP and UN-Habitat & Special Representative of Canada to the World Urban Forum.

CONCLUSION

By visiting Tanzanian and Uganda, the delegation gained a better appreciation of the challenges facing the countries of the East African Community as they try to reconcile the conflicts of the past, settle present conflicts, and work toward integration.  The meetings it held with its African counterparts were open and frank.  Tanzanian and Ugandan parliamentarians were candid about their countries’ need to learn more about how democracy works.  They also appreciated the visit by a Canadian delegation.  The delegation was encouraged that its meetings with Ugandan parliamentarians were reported in the Ugandan media.

The delegation agreed with African parliamentarians that Canada should assist in training parliamentarians and parliamentary staff in the operation of multi-party democracies.  The delegation also felt that the Government of Canada should encourage the development of democracy by encouraging Africans to recognize the legitimacy of opposition parties.  The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), which will be held in Kampala in November 2007, provides an ideal opportunity for the Canadian government to convey this message.

Thanks to the meetings with Canadian diplomats and officials, the delegation learned about Canadian involvement in the region in the areas of development, trade, immigration, and defence.  In addition, the meetings with representatives of NGOs and of Canadian companies helped the delegation appreciate the problems facing East Africa as it attacks poverty and underdevelopment.  The delegation was encouraged to see that efforts are underway to address these problems, and that, to a large extent, these efforts are being coordinated with local governments and populations.

Everywhere the delegation went, it was told that making a difference in Africa requires a long-term commitment.  In particular, groups involved in northern Uganda emphasized the need for Canada to stay engaged there even after peace is restored.  They pointed out that it will take years to resolve the problems faced by orphans, to deal with land mines and unexploded ordinance, and to achieve reconciliation.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

For their help in making the visit to East Africa a success, the delegation would like to thank the staff of the Canadian High Commission in Tanzania, particularly Mr. Reid Sirrs and Ms. Inès Le Minter.  It would also like to thank the Canadian High Commissioner to Kenya, Mr. Ross Hynes, and the staff of the High Commission, particularly Mr. Ian McKinley, Mr. Robert Logie and Mr. Bhupindar Liddar.  The delegation is especially grateful to Mr. Bryan Burton, Canada’s political counsellor based in Uganda, for his assistance in coordinating the visit to Uganda.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

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