Britain reduces budget support to Uganda
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-12-21 14:58

The United Kingdom (UK) has said that it is to reduce budget support to Uganda by 15 million pounds sterling (about 26 million US dollars), local press reported on Wednesday.

Hilary Benn, UK secretary of state for international development, Tuesday told the House of Commons that in addition, a further 5 million pounds (8.8 million dollars) will be withhold until after Uganda's elections in February, when a decision will be made on whether to disburse it.

"The immediate effect is to reduce budget support by 20 million pounds (35 million dollars) from a planned 50 million pounds (88 million dollars). The decision comes after an economic and governance assessment raised concerns over the government's commitment to the independence of the judiciary, freedom of the press and freedom of association following the events surrounding the arrest and trail of the leader of the Forum for Democratic Change," according to a statement from the British High Commission in Uganda on Tuesday.

It added that other concerns were "delays in the government's own road map for the political transition, the continuation of state financing for the Movement system in a new era of multiparty politics, and a significant overrun on public administration expenditure."

However, the statement said that "the cut of 15 million pounds will be re-allocated to help the UN provide humanitarian relief, including food and health care for people who have had to leave their homes as a result of the conflict in northern Uganda."

The British action was announced a day after Sweden cut aid to Uganda by 8.5 million dollars.