DIALOGUE HELPS TRANSFORM UGANDA INTO PROSPEROUS COUNTRY

From Newmond Tibin

MUNYONYO (Uganda), July 25 (Bernama) -- President Yoweri Museveni said the
Global Smart Partnership Dialogue, to be held here from Sunday to Tuesday, will
help Uganda provide solutions to overcome some of its challenges.

He said the dialogue would give the opportunity for participants to present
their views on issues of common interest, particularly on how to realise
socio-economic transformation through regional integration.

The Ugandan President hoped that solutions to the challenges of the global
financial crisis and climate change could also be found in dialogue among all
stakeholders.

"Although there is no food insecurity in Uganda, we have problem of food
scarcity in some areas because of the unfavourable weather. That's why we have
to budget our food supply.

"But if there is no rain as result of climate change then it might further
aggravate the situation in Uganda and this dialogue is an avenue to discuss this
global issue," he told reporters after the launch of the Media Centre for this
year's Global Smart Partnership Dialogue at Speke Resort, here.

In this respect, Museveni highlighted the need for informed, rigorous
thinking to provide a sound basis for immediate measures and long-term
solutions.

The President also called on leaders from all sections of society to engage
in dialogue to find solutions that would improve people's lives through the
"Prosper thy Neighbour" or a win-win approach.

"We will continue to pursue this fundamental smart partnership philosophy
and belief with the hope of making progress through solutions satisfying all
stakeholders.

"We have been emphasising this all along. It is based on goodwill, but not
only on goodwill. It is associated also with a smart partnership integrated
framework involving all elements of society -- human and material -- in the
process of social and economic transformation to achieve each community's
vision," he said.

Museveni said the smart partnership dialogue had been evolving since the
dialogue began in Malaysia in 1995.

Its aim is to stimulate and support sustainable development through new ways
of doing things which are participative, visionary and technologically
innovative, with a view to bridging the gap between the private and public
sector.


"This is the 19th dialogue and the first time that an African country has
hosted the dialogue for the second time. This year's dialogue follow ups the
earlier Munyonyo 2001 dialogue. It comes at a time, appropriately, when the
President of Uganda holds the Chair of the Commonwealth," he added.

Uganda, with a population of about 30 million, is bordered by Sudan in the
north, Kenya in the east, Tanzania in the South, Rwanda in the southwest and
Congo in the west.

The President said the Global Smart Partnership Dialogue would take the
process a step further to become "a think tank dialogue using the think tank
concept."

Participants to the dialogue, themed "The Smart Partnership Way for
Realizing Socio-economic Transformation Through Regional Integration", comprise
people distinguished in disciplines and professions such as academia,
technology, politics, civil service, industry, labour, culture and media.

Malaysia is represented by Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

Also expected to attend the event are founding members and fellows of the
Smart Partnership Movement, including former Malaysian Prime Minister Dr
Mahathir Mohamad.

-- BERNAMA