Uganda’s President Museveni slams ‘Western double standards’ over Germany coal mine plans The head of Uganda’s ruling party is seeking to dampen speculation over a coal mine by German energy giant RWE. Museveni said he wanted to ensure that his government would use its ‘technical ability’ to get a deal done. The opposition have been warning over plans to build a mining project by RWE in the Kihihi District, about 70km from Kampala. RWE has said the first phase of the project will cost in the region of $400 million, plus interest. ‘No one can guarantee me there will be no problems in the negotiations, because you cannot guarantee anything, but I can assure you there will be none,’ Museveni said in New York. Museveni said he was also keen to meet with Germany’s Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel, who is due to attend the UN General Assembly on Saturday, and told him the meeting had been arranged. He said he wanted to be sure the negotiations would be’very thorough’ and that there was ‘no sense of double dealing’.
Ugandan President Museveni has been meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is due to attend the UN General Assembly on Saturday, ahead of talks with German energy company RWE.
According to reports citing reports, President Museveni expressed frustration over the delay of the Kihihi coal mining project by KKR, the German mining company, to get the go-ahead from the German government.
Museveni said he was also keen to meet with Germany’s Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel, who is due to attend the UN General Assembly on Saturday, and told him the meeting had been arranged.
The German-headquartered corporation has previously said the Kihihi mine could provide “millions of tons” of coal for the German electric power grid.
The president said he wanted to be sure the negotiations would be “very thorough” and that there was “no sense of double dealing”.
Ugandan opposition says President Museveni’s meeting with Angela Merkel has been arranged via a private plane.
“When the president of Uganda goes to Germany he visits a number of foreign dignitaries and it is normal for other foreign dignitaries to meet with him,” said opposition spokesman Michael Ssekandi.
