A derogatory message sent out by Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy about Uganda has drawn an angry response from Kampala with authorities accusing the European country of habouring a colonial era mentality.
Mr Rajoy is reported to have sent this text message to his Finance Minister Luis de Guindos during negotiations on terms of a 100billion (about Shs 308tillion) bail-out for Spains beleaguered banking sector last week: Resist, we are the 4th Power of the EZ [Euro Zone]. Spain is not Uganda.
The remark issued perhaps to urge the Spanish Finance Minister to hold out for a good deal, has caused a storm of protest online and left acting Foreign Affairs Minister Henry Okello Oryem seething. These are the hangovers of the colonial times that some people still harbour, said Mr Oryem, speaking by telephone yesterday from Juba, South Sudan. They are not in touch with the reality on the ground.
Some have moved to loosely translate Mr Rajoys comment to suggest that Spain is a major power and not some random IMF-case banana republic.
Mr Rajoy is reported to have sent this text message to his Finance Minister Luis de Guindos during negotiations on terms of a 100billion (about Shs 308tillion) bail-out for Spains beleaguered banking sector last week: Resist, we are the 4th Power of the EZ [Euro Zone]. Spain is not Uganda.
The remark issued perhaps to urge the Spanish Finance Minister to hold out for a good deal, has caused a storm of protest online and left acting Foreign Affairs Minister Henry Okello Oryem seething. These are the hangovers of the colonial times that some people still harbour, said Mr Oryem, speaking by telephone yesterday from Juba, South Sudan. They are not in touch with the reality on the ground.
Some have moved to loosely translate Mr Rajoys comment to suggest that Spain is a major power and not some random IMF-case banana republic.
