    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book II)]
    [September 23, 2008]
    [Pages 1233-1234]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following a Meeting With President Yoweri Kaguta
    Museveni of Uganda in New York City
    September 23, 2008

        President Bush. I just had a very productive meeting with President
    Museveni of Uganda. He is--he's been a very strong leader on a number of
    fronts.
        First, he's been very helpful in solving regional conflicts on the
    continent of Africa, and I want to thank you for your leadership.
        Secondly, you gave me great confidence when it came to realizing the
    proper strategy in dealing with HIV/AIDS. Because of the success in
    Uganda, that showed the rest of the continent and the rest of the world
    how strong leadership and a good strategy can actually save lives in a
    very substantial way. The ABC program was implemented in your country;
    infection rate went from a lot to, you know, a much smaller number.
        I also want to thank you very much for implementing the Malaria
    Initiative. There's been over 200,000 [2.2 million]* bed nets
    distributed in your country, Mr. President, and that's because of the
    leadership of you and the organization of your Government.
        And so I thank you for coming by for what has been a very productive
    meeting.
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        *White House correction.
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        President Museveni. Thank you, sir. Well, I thank President Bush for
    the support he has given Uganda through the AIDS fund, for the
    development contribution. That's how our people are able to get free
    ARVs, antiretrovirals. Many people have access to these drugs now. In
    fact, almost all the people that need to have them, have access to the
    drugs, do so now in the case of Uganda.
        You should know that not everybody who has got AIDS needs to start
    on the ARVs; there's a certain threshold of resistance below which he
    should be able to access the drugs. And because of the money President
    Bush has provided, and also the money from the Global Fund, all our
    people who need to access ARVs do so now.
        Then there's also the Millennium Challenge Account, although I don't
    fully access that money, but we have got a part of it. And that one is
    also very helpful.
        Then there's the general support through the World Bank and other
    bilateral programs like USAID, supporting infrastructure. Because what
    we need in Africa is to lower the cost of doing business in Africa
    through investing in infrastructure and energy and so on, so that we can
    be able to attract FDI, foreign direct investment.

    [[Page 1234]]

    This is really the way forward. And President Bush has been tremendous
    on that. He has actually been a very good friend of Africa, and we
    salute him our gratitude.
        I thank you very much.
        President Bush. Thank you, sir.

    Note: The President spoke at 2:57 p.m. at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.