WAR IN UGANDA

Early day motion 1475, tabled 25 June 2003 by Simon Thomas (Plaid Cymru). Signed by 45 members.

That this House is concerned at the continuing 17-year war between the notorious Lords Resistance Army and the Government of Uganda; is appalled by reported deaths of several civilians who were killed in Government helicopter attacks in the towns of Lira and Soroti on 23rd and 24th June; is worried that the LRA insurgency appears to be escalating and spreading in other regions; notes with regret that this has forced the Ugandan Government to divert over 20 per cent. of its expenditure, including that on education and health, to defence; and therefore calls on Her Majesty's Government to use its significant bilateral aid budget to Uganda and influence to search for a political solution to the war in order to end the unspeakable suffering by the civilian population.

Signatures by party: Labour 29, Liberal Democrat 6, Plaid Cymru 4, UUP 2, Conservative 1, DUP 1, Independent Ulster Unionist 1, Labour/Co-operative 1.