§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the impact of proposed changes to the constitution of Uganda with regard to presidential term limits on(a) the democratic development of Uganda and (b) the political stability of Uganda; and if he will make a statement. [128042]
§ Mr. MullinChanges to the Ugandan Constitution are being considered by a Constitutional Review Commission (CRC). The CRC is now finalising its report. We are taking a close interest in its work, and look forward to the publication of the report. Open and inclusive debate of the CRC's recommendations should help promote stability at a time of political change.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of Sudanese support of the Lord's Resistance Army in Uganda; what discussions he has had on this matter with(a) the Government of Sudan and (b) the Government of Uganda; what the result of the discussions was; and if he will make a statement. [128043]
§ Mr. MullinWe have seen no hard evidence that the Sudanese Government is providing support to the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in Uganda. The UK Special Envoy for Sudan discussed the LRA with President Museveni of Uganda and with the Sudanese Prime Minister in late August. The Government of Sudan said that officers in the Sudanese army who had supplied the LRA on a personal basis had been disciplined, and that there was no official Sudanese support for the LRA.
We welcome the recent appointment of a Ugandan ambassador to Khartoum and the recent visit of senior Ugandan Ministers, and hope that these initiatives will contribute to better understanding and cooperation between the two governments.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the Government of Uganda about proposed changes to the constitution of Uganda with particular reference to presidential term limits; when these discussions took place; what the outcome was; and if he will make a statement. [128045]
§ Mr. MullinMy noble Friend the Secretary of State for International Development, discussed the current process of constitutional reform with President Museveni on her visit to Uganda in early August.
An independent Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) in Uganda is currently looking at possible constitutional changes. We are taking a close interest in its important work. It is expected to make recommendations soon. We hope that its proposals will pave the way for a transition to a properly constituted multi-party democracy in Uganda.