Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the likelihood of violence in Uganda during the election period, and of its effect on business and trade, in the light of the fact that the UK is the largest foreign direct investor to that country.

Free, fair and peaceful elections are important for business confidence in investing in any country. Ahead of the 2016 elections in Uganda, the UK, along with EU partners, has engaged in an open and frank dialogue with the government, political parties and other stakeholders on all aspects of the electoral process. During this dialogue we have urged all sides to refrain from activity or language that could lead to violence during the election period. Through our contribution to the multi-donor Democratic Governance Facility we are also supporting activity by the government and civil society to identify and mitigate risks of violence during the elections.

During his visit to Uganda on 15 December, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Rochford and Southend East (James Duddridge), underlined that it is vital for Uganda’s future that the elections in 2016 are credible, inclusive and transparent, and that they are underpinned by a respect for human rights. Our travel advice for British nationals travelling to Uganda warns of the possibility of heightened tension and unrest during the election period. We will keep the situation under close review.