Uganda moves to clean up its global image

The Ugandan Government has hired UK public relations firm Mercury International, a subsidiary of Mercury Public Affairs, to improve its image globally. Documents seen by The Monitor indicate that the focus of lobbying will be in the US. Mercury Public Affairs submitted its agreement to the US Justice Department on 26 April. The US Foreign Agents Registration Act requires lobbyists of foreign governments ‘who are engaged in political activities or other activities specified under the statute to make periodic public disclosure of their relationship with the foreign principal, as well as activities, receipts and disbursements in support of those activities’. The UK firm will be paying the US firm on a monthly basis for services rendered, the agreement says. It doesn't reveal the amount that Uganda will be paying.