Madam,- The letter from John O'Shea (April 2nd) misrepresents the situation in Uganda in order to taint the image of the government.
The constituency development fund (CDF) allocates a little over €3,000 to each MP to be used in their constituency to increase household incomes and boost food security. So far, 69 MPs out of 319 have accounted for their CDF spending in 2007. Those MPs who don't account for the funds will have the amount deducted from their salaries and will not be eligible for the next CDF disbursement.
Mr O'Shea calls for a halt to Irish aid funds being channelled through Ugandan government structures, as these MPs are responsible for its oversight. In Ireland, a country with a legacy of cash in brown paper bags, the Taoiseach has announced his resignation due to tribunal queries into his personal finances - the reported value of the amount being queried exceeds €800,000. I wonder has The Irish Timesreceived letters arguing that the EU should stop sending EU taxpayers' money to this corrupt fiefdom. I suspect not.
Both the Ugandan government and organisations like Goal have important roles to play in Uganda's future. It is one of the world's youngest and fastest-growing countries with over half of its population under 18 - the education system is therefore crucial. Progress has been made under the current administration, especially since it introduced universal primary education in 1997. Primary enrolment increased from 3.4 million in 1996 to 7.4 million in 2004. Secondary school enrolment has also increased sharply and will rise again following the introduction of universal secondary education in 2007.
Piecemeal efforts by NGOs are simply not as far-reaching as country-wide, government-led programmes in sectors like education, which Irish taxpayers rightly support.
- Yours, etc,
JOSEPH LAKE, Ratoath, Co Meath.