UK cuts budget support to Uganda
THE United Kingdom development arm is scaling its budget support further downwards depending on government’s tackling of corruption and human rights as the British government also faces a backlash home over the rationale of extending aid during an economic crisis.
By David Mugabe
THE United Kingdom development arm is scaling its budget support further downwards depending on government’s tackling of corruption and human rights as the British government also faces a backlash home over the rationale of extending aid during an economic crisis.
The British government will extend up to a maximum of 20% of the total $100m (about sh240b) that Uganda will get in this financial year.
DFID head of office Uganda Jane Rintoul also said yesterday during a briefing at the High Commission that a provisional budget totaling £390m (about sh936b) had been made for the period running from 2011 to 2015, which is a 16% increase over previous spending plans for Uganda.
“It is about helping provide solutions, not hitting government with a stick because we think they are not doing well,†said Rintoul.
UK has the third biggest budget deficit in Europe, with shortfalls in its finances amounting to 10.4% of gross domestic product in 2010.
DFID said the declining budget support that was about 50% of total funding a few years ago will now be refocused to where there is greater impact and increased level of transparency.
While the exact amount of budget support is still under review, the UK government will in the next five years largely support the health sector, especially reproductive health and education.
Of the £390 million, the biggest chunk of £122m will go to health, followed by wealth creation with £102m. £78m will go to fighting poverty and hunger, £74m will be sunk into governance and security. Another £13 million will be extended to humanitarian aid.
THE United Kingdom development arm is scaling its budget support further downwards depending on government’s tackling of corruption and human rights as the British government also faces a backlash home over the rationale of extending aid during an economic crisis.
The British government will extend up to a maximum of 20% of the total $100m (about sh240b) that Uganda will get in this financial year.
DFID head of office Uganda Jane Rintoul also said yesterday during a briefing at the High Commission that a provisional budget totaling £390m (about sh936b) had been made for the period running from 2011 to 2015, which is a 16% increase over previous spending plans for Uganda.
“It is about helping provide solutions, not hitting government with a stick because we think they are not doing well,†said Rintoul.
UK has the third biggest budget deficit in Europe, with shortfalls in its finances amounting to 10.4% of gross domestic product in 2010.
DFID said the declining budget support that was about 50% of total funding a few years ago will now be refocused to where there is greater impact and increased level of transparency.
While the exact amount of budget support is still under review, the UK government will in the next five years largely support the health sector, especially reproductive health and education.
Of the £390 million, the biggest chunk of £122m will go to health, followed by wealth creation with £102m. £78m will go to fighting poverty and hunger, £74m will be sunk into governance and security. Another £13 million will be extended to humanitarian aid.