Uganda (Hansard, 29 June 1981)

§ 47. Mr. Greville Janner
asked the Lord Privy Seal when next he expects to meet the High Commissioner of Uganda to discuss aid to Uganda.

§ The Minister for Overseas Development (Mr. Neil Marten)
I have no plans to do so at present

§ Mr. Janner
Nevertheless, will the Minister do all he can to help President Obote to stabilise Uganda's economy and commercial set-up despite the unfair and unhappy picture that is generally given by the British press? Will he also do what he can to provide such help as is possible to former Ugandan Asians who are now residents and citizens of the United Kingdom and who seek compensation for losses that they suffered as a result of Idi Amin's regime?

§ Mr. Marten
The object of the exercise is to encourage stability in Uganda. I am sure that the hon. and learned Gentleman will be pleased to know that we have recently offered the Ugandan Government an additional £1.5 million of capital aid, mainly for rehabilitation of the transport sector. That will bring the total since the Amin days to £7.5 million, which is a considerable sum. As regards the hon. and learned Gentleman's second point, we recognise the concern of the claimants, many of whom live in the hon. and learned Gentleman's constituency. We have raised the question of compensation with the new Government in Uganda. President Obote has given an assurance that all those who had their property confiscated under Amin's regime are free to return to Uganda to resume ownership. He has also confirmed that the compensation committee, set up in April 1980, should continue its work. Her Majesty's Government will act as a channel of communication for the lodging of claims with the compensation committee. Of course, we cannot negotiate on behalf of claimants.

§ Sir John Biggs-Davison
Is there enough stability for aid to be usefully employed in Uganda?

§ Mr. Marten
That is very much a question of judgment. I take my hon Friend's point. However, we have decided that we shall try to do our best, with aid, to help Uganda achieve the stability that it needs. We have given quite a bit of aid to the police force in Uganda, which should count as an additional factor towards stability.

§ Mr. Guy Barnett
During the last financial year was British aid to Uganda underspent? If so, why? Given the situation to which my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Leicester, West (Mr. Janner) drew attention, has the right hon. Gentleman investigated the possibility of ensuring that aid is fully spent in future?

§ Mr. Marten
I think that British aid to Uganda was underspent, but I should like to check before making a firm statement. I shall write to the hon. Gentleman on that point.

§ Mr. Dykes
Are there still many former Ugandan Asians with frozen bank accounts—particularly small ones—in Uganda? If so, has my right hon. Friend discussed the matter with the Treasury, with a view to making further representations to the Bank of Uganda in order to get both the principal and accumulated interest payments released as soon as possible?

§ Mr. Marten
Such questions have been put to the Government. Our High Commissioner in Uganda takes them up with the Ugandan Government.

§ Mr. Hardy
Although the sum of £7.5 million may appear substantial, will not the right hon. Gentleman accept that it is insufficient given the need in Uganda? Will he not also accept that as the former colonial Power, Britain has some responsibility for the emergence of Idi Amin and the consequences that befell Uganda?

§ Mr. Marten
The sum of £7.5 million is a considerable amount. As my hon. Friend the Member for Epping Forest (Sir J. Biggs-Davison) implied, there must be more stability in Uganda before aid can be usefully employed. So far, we have done well. We are not the only aid-giving agency.