Britain, Denmark, Ireland and Norway had already suspended aid to the office
of Uganda’s prime minister Amama Mbabazi following claims that staff
funnelled 10 million euros (£8 million) from an aid programme into private
accounts.
Uganda’s auditor general reported last month that money intended to help
develop areas devastated by the war against the Lord’s Resistance Army
rebels had been stolen.
Several officials from the prime minister’s office were implicated in
embezzlement on a grand scale.
The scandal adds to concerns about corruption under President Yoweri Museveni,
whose critics say has created a culture of impunity for cronies who steal
public money while remaining loyal to the ruling party.
Ireland said this month that Uganda had pledged to repay four million euros to
the Dublin government after apologising over the missing funding.
Some 16 million euros of Irish funding that were due to Kampala this year will
remain suspended while the investigation continues.
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