Paper short abstract:

This paper examines the key role Uganda has played in the securitization of development in the IGAD region and how its activities in this area have protected it against donor pressure in relation to authoritarian policies at home.

Paper long abstract:

Since the mid-1980s, Uganda's skilful manipulation of donor agendas has brought political advantages to the government of Yoweri Museveni. While being keen advocates of African 'ownership' and 'African solutions', Uganda has become a 'trusted' implementer of Western policies without cajolement or conditionality. In return, international actors have consistently funded the regime's annual budget. This expansive support has largely ignored the centrality of the military as a key pillar of the state in Uganda, and the failure to take significant steps toward to democratization of its politics. Having resisted pressure to reduce its armed forces in the 1990s, since 9/11 the Ugandan military has adopted an enhanced role in Africa security across the IGAD region - all with donor support for the 'donor darling'. This paper explores the implications of this enhancement of the security sector, examining the key role Uganda has played in the securitization of development throughout the IGAD region, willingly acting as a Western proxy wherever its own interests can be furthered. This has been evident in interventions in DRC, Somalia and Sudan, and has brought Uganda a significant role in the development of security policy within the AU. The politics behind the recent threat by the Ugandans to withdraw from AMISOM reflects the extent to which Museveni's government is now able to protect its authoritarian policies against the pressure of donors and other critics.

Note: This is a joint paper submission by Professor David M Anderson and Dr Jonathan Fisher