KAMPALA: Britain said Monday it had given nearly 12 million dollar (74 mio. DKR) originally earmarked for the Ugandan government but withheld over democracy concerns to UN agencies working in the war-ravaged north of the country.
The British Department for International development (DfID) said 11,8 million of the 26,6 million dollar withheld from President Yoweri Musevenis government was given to the World Health organisation (WHO), the UN Childrens Fund (UNICEF) and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA).
– The rest of the money is likely to be given to the World Food Programme (WFP), said Charlotte Pierre, a DfID official in Kampala.
The 12 million dollar tranche will help fund emergency health, nutrition and HIV/AIDS programmes in northern Uganda, which for almost 20 years has been the theatre of a brutal insurgency by the notorious LRA rebels.
The financial boost for the UN operations is a direct result of British Development Secretary Hilary Benns decision in December to divert much of London’s direct aid to the Ugandan government to humanitarian operations instead.
Britain last year cited concerns about the state of democracy and economic reform in Uganda under Museveni, who is seeking a third term in office in February 23 elections after 20 years in power.
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