The United States of America’s Assistant Secretary for Africa Affairs Tibor Nagy has watered down media claims that his country supports the opposition in Uganda.
Opposition politicians have always referred to the USA as an extra force that may help them to fight this current government led by strongman Yoweri Museveni.
However, on Sunday while addressing journalists at the US embassy in Kabalagala, Nagy said that USA has nothing to do with Uganda’s politics so long as it’s investors are assured of security.
He said “There is always an assumption that the USA favours the opposition and I want to say categorically for the record that the USA does have a candidate in every single election but that candidate is the process.
“Now, what is the process? we expect the process to be fair, that is open to the participation where people have a right to participate in the process and opening up the political space,” he noted.
Nagy added that if African leaders are sure of peace and security in their countries, American companies will be free to come and invest their money here. “If you want American companies to invest their money in your countries, you need to have a positive business environment this means minimum levels of corruption, fair treatment, honouring contracts and quite frankly good governance environment.”
The Assistant Secretary who was accompanied by the US embassy to Uganda Her Excellency Deborah Ruth Malac also commented on the increasing tensions between Uganda and Rwanda board and asked both heads of the countries to resolve this problem before it affects businesses in the entire region.
“Both of these countries are very instrumental in the regional businesses and security so we encourage our friends to go on and settle all the disputes,”
Nagy was also not happy with the way African countries are praising China yet the USA spends much money on African nations than China.
“When China say that is going to build a stadium all papers will write that but the USA spend almost over half a billion dollars a year on saving lives of a million plus people gets no publicity. If the USA does not do this help in health, Education sector who will be sitting in those stadiums built by China?” Nagy inquired.
“This one annoys me greatly, it’s very easy to come and sign a contract and increase the country’s debts and build the project but the one to help and solve the debts come from other country. American companies are very responsible, they genuinely transfer technology, employ local people and by the way Americans don’t come in and open shops to compete with local people,” he added.
Nagy was in Uganda for a full week and on Saturday evening he finished his visitation by paying a visit to president Museveni where they discussed the US-Uganda relations.
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