§ 11. Mr. Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in the light of the recent change of Government in Uganda, he has any plans to increase the number of places available to Ugandan Civil Service trainees at the Civil Service college; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. ChalkerPresident Museveni's Government have asked us to resume our programme of help to the Ugandan Civil Service. An adviser on public administration is now in Kampala to discuss how best this can be done. We shall ensure that the college helps as far as possible to meet Uganda's need for assistance in public administration.
§ Mr. WainwrightWould not a really substantial offer of places for administrative training be a timely and practical support for a new Government who have inherited a terrible legacy of terrorism, violence and disorder? Would not such an offer partly compensate for the British Government's previous provision of military training to Obote's terrorists until a few weeks before he fell?
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe hon. Gentleman is right to say that Uganda needs help to train her civil servants. That is exactly why we have an adviser on public administration in Kampala to discuss with the Ugandan Government how help can best be provided. Whatever considerations he comes up with will be considered by the Ugandan Government and then by us. We shall help in whatever way we can.
The second part of the hon. Gentleman's question was uncalled for. British Military Advisory Training Teamtraining was suspended in July 1985, but it was intended to make troops responsible and to act with decision. It was stopped for well-known reasons. The training that the present Ugandan Government under President Museveni have sought is similar to BMATT training, which has been greatly valued across Africa and which is constantly being asked for by nation after nation.