Besides the focus on the two sectors, the Dutch Development Co-operation in Uganda pays specific attention to three cross cutting issues (political governance, Northern Uganda and accountability/taxation) which are key areas with a broader impact and/or which strengthens the efforts in the two priority sectors.

Political govervance

Uganda has only recently moved from a “no-party system” to a multi party democracy. The Netherlands embassy inter alia funds an organisation that assesses the performance of the members of parliament. The Netherlands embassy also joined a multi donor ‘Deepening Democracy Programme’. In general the embassy is interested in supporting the expression of multiple voices since it is felt that this will build and strengthen democratic tendencies in Uganda and support poverty eradication.

Northern Uganda

The Northern part of Uganda has been hit by a 20 year war between government troops and the LRA. Almost two million people had to flee to Internally Dispalced Camps. All poverty indicators are higher in Northern Uganda than in the rest of the country. It is for this reason that the Netherlands embassy is very active in Northern Uganda. It plays a political role in support of the peace process, it funds two large bursary schemes that pay school fees for children that have been abducted by the LRA and it gives substantial support to the overhaul of the education sector in the war affected regions. In terms of Justice, Law and Order, the embassy has supported the rebuilding of the police, courts and prisons since there has been a cessation of hostilities in the north. Special, additional, resources will be made available to support the implementation of the Peace, Recovery and Development Programme for Northern Uganda in 2008 and 2009.

Accountability/taxation

Public procurement is an area of government activity in which the risks of corruption are high, considering the value of goods and services procured (estimated at more than 800 million Euro), the strong interest of business and the authority given to government officials to award contracts. The objective of the Netherlands embassy is to contribute to a public procurement process that enhances the effectiveness and efficiency of government spending and limits corruption. The embassy is a lead donor in the procurement working group, monitoring progress of procurement reforms, bringing to attention irregularities in procurement processes, and giving financial support to the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assests Authority.

On taxation the Netherlands embassy contributes to a basket fund in support of a modernisation plan for the Uganda Revenue Authority. Proper taxation will supply the Ugandan government with sufficient funds to deliver good services to the population. When the Ugandan tax base is brought to an acceptable standard it is expected that the population will demand value for its money thereby again increasing the quality of services delivered.