Entebbe — The World Bank has committed US$20billion to combat food security in Africa. This was revealed by Mr. Robert B. Zoellick, the World Bank President during a meeting with President Yoweri Museveni at State House Entebbe on Thursday last week.

Mr. Zoellick who was accompanied by his Deputy for Africa, Ezekwesili Katryna Obiageli and World Bank Uganda Country Office staff said that an additional support in to Uganda's health and education amounting to US$1.2 has been committed for the next three years in form of a soft loan with a 10 year grace period payable in 40 years.

He said that Africa is likely to be the worst hit continent by the global financial crisis which is just beginning and it is for this reason that the World Bank will engage the G8 meeting in September not to abandon Africa.

Zoellick said that the crisis is impacting on foreign aid as most donor countries will be focusing on themselves and internal re-alignments before they look to Africa. He added that remittances to Africa will greatly dip because of the job losses by Africans in the developed world including low capital inflows to Africa.

He said that the World Bank will generally increase its funding to Africa and it has already started in mitigating food insecurity and deaths that will result from the crisis.

It is understood that whereas the 21st century was touted at the century for Africa, the global financial crisis has thrown this thinking into balance since over 700,000 infant deaths are expected before the crisis is averted. Because of the crisis

He, however, said that the World Bank will lobby other donor agencies to help Africa out of this catastrophe. By end of 2008, the World Bank had committed over US$1,200million to Uganda in various sectors like energy, works, agriculture, corporate governance and this figure is expected to rise.

The bank expects government to show results in form of improved governance so that each dollar is well spent.

President Museveni said that Uganda has harmonized its focus together with the World Bank. He said that government and the World Bank put greater emphasis on energy, rail, roads, vocational education, and plan for modernization of agriculture to spur development and prosperity for all.

The president urged the World Bank chief to present Uganda's needs to the G8 meeting in September 2009 that in order for Uganda to develop its agricultural sector, it needs support to develop irrigation schemes around the country.

The meeting between the presidents was attended by a select team of key ministers that included Ms Syda Bumba (Finance), Sam Kutesa (Foreign Affairs), John Nasasira (Works and Transport), Hilary Onek (Energy), and Ms Hope Mwesigye (Agriculture).

Other key personalities included the Secretary to the Treasury and Finance Permanent Secretary Chris Kassami and the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Energy, Kabagambe Kaliisa.