US: We may shift Uganda aid to alternative needy country

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US ambassador to Uganda Scott DeLisi, (2nd left) with some of the guests he hosted at his residence in Kololo on Monday.US Ambassador Scott H. DeLisi has come out to explain why he kept away from the launch of an HIV-prevention campaign organised by First Lady Janet Museveni.

Mr DeLisi said he had to weigh whether attending the End Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (EMTCT) programme made sense, especially after President Museveni’s remarks to donors while signing the Anti-Homosexuality Bill into law.

Last week, the United States and Irish envoys to Uganda kept away from the government despite having confirmed attendance earlier. Mr DeLisi was speaking to journalists at his residence in Kololo during a pre-departure reception of more than 50 Ugandans travelling to the International Home and House wares Trade Show in Chicago next week.

He said his absence at the Kololo ceremony last week does not imply the US doesn’t support EMTCT.

While assenting to the anti-gays law recently, President Museveni said he is ready to stand up to the West if they chose to cut aid over the legislation.

The US is one of Uganda’s donor countries and its president Barack Obama had warned that the relationship between the two countries would become ‘complicated’ if Mr Museveni signed the Bill into law.

Mr DeLisi said the United States was critically analysing the developments in Kampala. “We are looking at this very carefully and not acting in haste, we are assessing where we stand if our aid is not welcome and appreciated,” he said.

He said the US was ready to turn its assistance to another country if Uganda made it clear that it did not want it. “If Uganda doesn’t want our assistance, let the government tell us and we shall turn to another African country,” he added.

But he said America had too many partnerships and cared about the country to just walk away.

Ambassador DeLisi also said America’s position on the Anti-homosexuality law had been misunderstood in Uganda.

“People don’t want to hear this but we are not promoting homosexuality, we are promoting basic rights like equal protection under the law and protection of non-discrimination. And those who say that we have not spoken about other rights are so wrong,” he said.