Crowe Welcomes Return of Uganda Aid Money

Sinn Féin’s spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Trade and Diaspora, Seán Crowe TD, has welcomed the news that €4 million of Irish Aid’s money to Uganda that was discovered to be misappropriated has now been repaid.

Deputy Crowe said:

“I welcome the news of Uganda Governments return of the €4 million worth of Irish Aid that was misappropriated in October 2012. I hope that this shows a renewed commitment by the Ugandan Government to reduce corruption at all levels and to hold those responsible for the  misappropriation of the irish money  to account.

“To maintain its current public support Irish Aid must continue to work towards being one of the most accountable and transparent government aid programmes in the world.

“This funding controversy has renewed focus on the Irelands Aid programme and it is clear to see that Irish Aid, along with other donors, has helped significantly to reduce poverty in Uganda since it became a recipient partner country  in 1994. Poverty has halved in the country over the last two decades and the  development aid from Ireland has played significant role in this welcome outcome.  There are  also now 5.8 million more students in primary school since 1997, and the  spread of HIV has been reduced from 18% in the 1990s to 6% today.

“Disadvantaged Ugandan citizens should not be made suffer because of an act of fraud by a few highly placed  corrupt individuals.

“Irish Aid to Uganda remains suspended pending the completion of the Ugandan Auditor General’s investigation into the misappropriation, which is expected to take another few months. I am confident and extremely   hopeful that when this investigation report is completed it  will begin to clarify some of the many of the concerns that people have in relation to this particular misappropriation of a substantial  amount of Irish taxpayers money.”