British MPs warned against meddling in Uganda's affairs

The Ugandan government has warned British Members of Parliament (MPs) against meddling in Uganda's affairs, especially in the democratization process, according to local reports on Friday.

Speaking at the weekly news briefing on Thursday, Ugandan Minister of State for Information Nsaba Buturo lashed out at the 27 members of Britain' s House of Commons, who reportedly recentlysigned a motion drafted by the opposition, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) against the proposal to lift the presidential term limited in Uganda, citing torture of the opposition and accusing President Yoweri Museveni of manipulating the Constitution to facilitate his re-election.

Buturo also criticized the opposition, particularly the FDC forlying about the situation in Uganda.

"On the issue of leadership in Uganda, the British MPs need to know that nobody from outside Uganda has a mandate to tell Ugandans how they should govern themselves. Any attempt to do thatwould be reminiscent of colonial times," Buturo was quoted by state-owned newspaper The New Vision as saying.

"The MPs are not aware that sovereignty means exactly that. Even when their country is one of our strongest partners in development, that is nor a passport to meddle in our country's affairs. The government believes that these MPs spoke for themselves and not on behalf of the British government," Buturo said.

The Ugandan government invited the MPs to Uganda to study the political process, the minister said, adding that "in this connection, the government of Uganda offers to meet all the expense of these MPs so that they can come to Uganda and see for themselves what is taking place."

He said "that the members of the House of Commons took as gospel truth allegations by FDC smacks of political complacency ofthe kind one would normally not expect from MPs from a democracy such as the United Kingdom."

He said this reflected their awfully limited understanding of Uganda's situation.

The minister said the Movement government was determined to complete the transition process by March 2006.

He also blasted civil society organizations that accept fundingfrom abroad to finance programs that erode Uganda's moral fiber.

Source: Xinhua