Kampala — The outgoing United States Ambassador to Uganda, Mr Steven Browning, has said he is disappointed by the government's slow pace of rebuilding the north, which has suffered a two-decade war.

He told reporters at the US embassy in Kampala yesterday that the government should help people returning from camps get out of dependence, especially on food hand-outs from donors.

"It's so dehumanising and unhealthy to depend on hand-outs. I think it is my biggest disappointment," Mr Browning said at the end of his over three-year tenure at Kampala.

The outgoing American Ambassador Steven Browning bids farewell to President Museveni at State House Nakasero on Tuesday. PPU PHOTO

He said the US was supportive of Uganda's resolve to end the war militarily, since Lord's Resistance Army leader Joseph Kony had failed to show commitment to the peace process.

The diplomat said even during the talks, Kony had continued to abduct, rape and kill people.

Mr Browning said he had also discussed with President Museveni the claims of a new rebel group in the north, but declined to give details. He added that people in the north should seek good governance through the ballot, not unconstitutional means.

He also revealed that Uganda and the US enjoy a cordial relationship, and the two would continue to work to return peace in the Great Lakes region.

He said Ugandans had a duty to build their own democracy, and not expect the US to intervene in the internal affairs of the country.

The issue of presidential term limits, he said, was up to Ugandans to decide.

Mr Browning however said there was a need to revisit the current electoral laws so that stakeholders to the democratic process can have faith in changing governments through the ballot. He said the run up to 2011 was a test for Uganda's commitment to fight corruption and improve human rights.

Mr Museveni, the ambassador noted, was wrong to encourage undemocratic countries to develop nuclear weapons, especially after Uganda assumed the chairmanship of the UN Security Council yesterday.

"Since the President disagreed with us publicly, I would also like to publicly say he is wrong. Nuclear weapons proliferation is of the greatest danger not only to the United States, but also Uganda," Mr Browning said.

President Museveni during a recent visit to Iran said the country should be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.