The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, says that legislators will be encouraged to work with the Uganda North America Association (UNAA) in ensuring food security in Uganda.
Kadaga who is attending the 30th UNAA Convention in Seattle, USA said there is need to have facilities for storage of surplus food during bumper harvests to eliminate wastage and low prices to the farmers.
“A new partnership is going to develop between parliament and UNAA on the manufacturing of silos to store food to cater for price fluctuations,” Kadaga said adding that, “Together with companies in United States, the diaspora and banks, we should improve the livelihood of the people”.
While attending the Trade and Investment Forum, the Speaker sought the support of the United States government so that Uganda can move from exporting raw materials to producing finished products as a way forward for the economic transformation of the country.
She also said that instead of the US dumping used clothes in Uganda, it should instead add value to Ugandan cotton.
The US Department of State Officer in Charge of East African Affairs Derek Wright said that the United States would wish have more investments in Uganda but decried the high levels of corruption. Uganda’s Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Charles Elem-Ogwal said that the government has enacted laws which criminalise any form of corruption, bribery, embezzlement or fraudulent activities.
Uganda’s Ambassador to the US, Amb. Ssebujja Katende, said that the convention should be seen as an opportunity for Ugandans to forge partnerships with the Ugandan diaspora in North America.
The Ambassador said the convention could facilitate the diaspora to come together and contribute to the development of Uganda through social economic programmes.