President Museveni embraced fundamental economic reform and led initiatives to attract foreign investment, increase trade, and spur economic growth. The United States has actively assisted Uganda's transformation. Our bilateral assistance program furthers Uganda's efforts to increase rural household incomes, conserve critical ecosystems, and provide quality primary education. Uganda, however, still faces significant challenges. It remains one of the world's poorest countries.
Corruption is pervasive.
Insurgents are active in the north and west. Participatory democracy and good governance are still works in progress. The United States should, I believe, continue to work in partnership with Uganda to meet these challenges. Uganda plays a key role in the peace and stability of East and Southern Africa. That said, Uganda's involvement in the complex and destabilizing conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has placed strains on economic and political reform programs.