THE existing twinning arrangement between Ross-on-Wye and Namutumba in Uganda is to remain in place, despite the African Government’s abuse of human rights.

At Monday’s meeting of the town Council Jim Herbert, a former teacher at John Kyrle High, explained that he had been involved in starting the link with the college in Namutumba in 1992 and since then hundreds of students and teachers have visited the district and numerous teachers from the village have visited Ross.

Mr Herbert said: “The LGBTQ issue and its wider human rights implications imposed by the Ugandan Government is abhorrent. But the link between Ross and Namutumba is not a government-to-government link, it is to a poor rural community.

“Despite everything going on, the link is still very active and two teachers from Namutumba will be coming to Ross this summer and donations from local farmers and businesses are still being forwarded to the Ugandan community.

“I pose this question: Who would benefit from cutting the twinning links? Nobody. Who would lose? The semi-rural communities in the Namutumba district.

“These are wonderful people who lead their lives well away from the national government; they are effectively scratching a living. However they are so proud of the twinning with Ross, they’ve even got hand painted signs all around Namutumba.

“It will do this community a lot of harm if the twinning link is broken.”

Sam Smith, chairman of Ross Pride Connections told the council: “I have grave concerns about continuing the links with a country with such an appalling human rights record in particular the attitudes towards homosexuality and the death penalty.

“Whilst there may be benefits to Ross in terms of cultural exchange, I feel that twinning of a town with a country with such retrograde attitudes sends very negative message to the young people in our community and beyond.”

Councillor Ed O’Driscoll suggested that the town council should engage with other councils twinned with Ugandan towns, to see what the position is and take up a united position as he believes all towns would be stronger together than individually.

Cllr Chris Bartrum said that there is no support in breaking the twinning link and added: “We are supporting some of the poorest people in the World. They will feel abandoned if the link is cut.”

Cllr Bev Pope said: “I believe that our support today is even more important than ever because of the ongoing horror ensuing in Uganda.”

Cllr Katie Fowler suggested that the twinning arrangement could become a friendship link instead, but the council was told that securing visas for visitors from Namutumba would become more difficult if the twinning arrangement was not in place.

The late Queen signed a letter to the college, celebrating the link in 2013 and the then Prince Charles spoke enthusiastically about the link between Ross and Namutumba and said it was beneficial for both communities.

The town council voted in favour of keeping the twinning link with Namutumba by 12 votes to two, with four abstentions.