[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 7]
[House]
[Page 9048]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              UGANDA AND THE MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE ACCOUNT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Burgess). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Jefferson) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. JEFFERSON. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that Congress is advancing 
the Millennium Challenge Account or the MCA, a bold initiative 
supporting economic growth and self-sufficiency in the world's poorest 
nations. I applaud MCA's focus on reforming poor nations that have 
demonstrated achievement in ruling justly, investing in people, and 
encouraging economic freedom. MCA should have a special emphasis on 
sub-Saharan Africa, the poorest region of the world with over 290 
million people living on less than one dollar per day.
  Several countries in sub-Saharan Africa are successfully addressing 
some of the most critical developmental challenges of our century, HIV/
AIDS, poverty eradication, political reform and economic 
liberalization.
  As our Nation prepares to launch MCA and make this important 
contribution to human and economic development, we can draw inspiration 
from countries such as Uganda. Uganda progress demonstrates that the 
developmental challenges confronting Africa are immense but not 
insurmountable.
  Uganda was recognized by the World Bank/IMF as the first IDA or 
International Development Association country to adopt a comprehensive 
and participatory national strategy to eradicate poverty. As a result, 
Uganda's poverty rate dropped from 56 percent to 35 percent over the 
past 10 years. During this same period, Uganda has maintained a growth 
rate of over 6.5 percent. Uganda is leading the developing world in 
addressing its HIV/AIDS rate and its infection rate which fell from 30 
percent 10 years ago to less than 7 percent today.
  Over the last 12 years primary school enrollment in Uganda increased 
from 40 percent to 99 percent. This transformation helped Uganda to 
further distinguish itself as the first country to qualify for the 
World Bank's Heavily Indebted Poor Country debt relief initiative or 
HIPC.
  Uganda's success is attributed to strong leadership and the 
government's establishment of broad-based public-private partnerships 
in health care, education, and economic development in rural 
communities and municipalities throughout the Nation.
  The number of registered nongovernmental organizations and faith-
based groups working with local government administrators has more than 
doubled over the past 5 years. Uganda's successful development model 
also includes empowering women in government, in civil society and in 
enterprise development. The number of women in the governments rose 
from 22 percent to 45 percent in 4 years and a woman now serves as Vice 
President of Uganda.
  Mr. Speaker, Uganda's record of achievement reflects good governance. 
President Museveni and his team have successfully transformed a war-
torn and ethically divided country into one with strong democratic 
institutions. Uganda held successive elections in 1996 and 2001 that 
were certified as free and fair by national and international bodies. 
Additionally, the government has made the issue of multi-party system a 
transparent debate with the referendum in 2000 that was also certified 
as free and fair by the international community.
  Voter turnout in Uganda is also admirable with the vast majority of 
eligible voters consistently turning out to vote. Uganda is now engaged 
in a national process to further refine its flourishing democracy.
  While corruption continues to challenge Uganda, the government is 
making strides with the adoption of an aggressive anti-corruption 
strategy through the independent Office of the Inspector General. In 
partnership with the World Bank, Uganda instituted reforms to broaden 
the enforcement authority of the IGG and strengthen its ability to 
fight corruption. Public officials in Uganda must now among other 
things declare their wealth upon taking office and throughout the 
process of their holding office.
  Mr. Speaker, Uganda's record speaks for itself. The Millennium 
Challenge Account should build on the African Growth and Opportunity 
Act. It should strengthen the capacity of progressive poor nations, 
such as Uganda, to realize further gains as they proceed on the arduous 
but promising path of reform and development.

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