UK cuts security aid to Uganda – here’s all you need to know

The United Kingdom (UK) government has frozen aid to three of Uganda’s security agencies over alleged violation of human rights, particular the raid handling of the November 18 and 19 riots that followed the arrest of Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine.

Just over 50 people were killed in the protests that the Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni’s administration says were not spontaneous but had been planned with help from foreign elements.

The affected agencies are Uganda Police Force (UPF), Uganda Prisons Service and Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).

The funding was worth £40,909 (about Shs208m).

The funds were being used to facilitate human rights training for the Uganda Police Force and Uganda Prisons Service, as well as footing expenditure for materials for the documentation and probe into conflict-related sexual violence.

“We took the decision to pause funding of three projects totalling £40,909 which were working directly with the Ugandan security services,” James Duddridge, the undersecretary of state for Africa, told the House of Commons.

“We took the decision to pause funding of three projects totalling £40,909 which were working directly with the Ugandan security services.”