President Museveni of Uganda to Visit the White House on Oct. 30, 2007

Bush to Meet Museveni Over Somalia
The Monitor (Kampala) NEWS
16 October 2007

By Peter Nyanzi

US President George Bush has invited President Yoweri Museveni for a meeting at the end of this month. An October 12 press release from Mr. Bush's Press Secretary Dana Perino said Mr. Museveni is expected at the White House on October 30 to "discuss" a number of issues including the Uganda-led peace mission to Somalia.

"President Bush will welcome President Yoweri Museveni of the Republic of Uganda to the White House on October 30," Mr. Perino said. "[Mr. Bush] and President Museveni will discuss Uganda's leadership in Somalia, the LRA, and Mr. Museveni's development plan for northern Uganda, as well as their strong partnership to combat malaria and HIV/AIDS in Uganda." Uganda has set up a comprehensive three-year Peace, Recovery and Development Plan (PRDP 2007-2009) for the war-torn region for which Mr. Museveni is expected to seek financial support. The three-year programme requires $180 million per year to implement.

On the Somalia mission where Uganda is the only country that has sent as the vanguard of a planned 8,000-strong African Union force, Mr. Museveni will probably tell his host that despite the reluctance of other countries to send troops, Uganda plans to send an additional 250 soldiers in the next few months.

On the LRA, Mr. Museveni will brief the US government about the progress of the peace talks that have been ongoing in Juba for over a year. He is expected to give an update on the government's stand on the ICC indictments on LRA leader Joseph Kony and his three top commanders, which still remain in force.

On the HIV/Aids campaign in Uganda to which Mr. Bush's President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar) contributes more than 80 per cent. Uganda has been credited as a model in the fight against HIV/Aids over the past 20 years, but scientists suggest that the HIV prevalence rate, which had stagnated at about 6 per cent for several years, is beginning to rise again. According to Pepfar's FY 2007 Country Operational Plan for Uganda, approximately 940,000 people (6.7 per cent) are currently HIV positive.

Earlier, Mr. Bush will meet DRC President Joseph Kabila over bilateral issues.