The Department for International Development (DFID) is extremely concerned by the introduction of this Bill and is working closely with the Foreign Office and with European Union (EU) colleagues on this issue. The UK Government have made clear our concerns in representations to Ugandan Ministers, including by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to President Museveni and my noble Friend Baroness Kinnock to Foreign Minister Kutesa, at the recent Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. The UK High Commissioner in Kampala has also lobbied the Prime Minister and other Ugandan Ministers on the issue. Sweden, as local EU presidency in Uganda, led an EU démarche to the Ugandan Foreign Ministry in December 2009. The Head of DFID Uganda has raised the issue with Uganda's Minister of Finance and senior officials.
The Bill is a private members Bill and has not been adopted by the Government of Uganda or approved by Parliament. However, we will take account of the Bill's progress when taking any decisions on future funding for Uganda.