Norwegian aid to the Ugandan state has been suspended for an indefinite period.
Norway and four other donor countries have suspended all aid to the Ugandan state following revelations of a major corruption scandal involving the misuse of some EUR 11.6 million (approximately NOK 85 million).
The funds were intended to support stabilisation and development efforts in northern Uganda, but instead were transferred to a number of bank accounts, including one linked to the Office of the Prime Minister in Uganda and used for purposes other than intended. Norwegian aid funds worth some NOK 27 million have been found to have been embezzled.
“It is particularly serious that the Office of the Prime Minister in Uganda is implicated in one of the most severe corruption cases involving Norwegian aid funds. Uganda needs to make a far more credible effort to clear up this corruption scandal,” said State Secretary Arvinn Eikeland Gadgil at a meeting with Uganda’s Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Maria Kiwanuka in Oslo.
Uganda is set to start oil production. Minister Kiwanuka and her delegation have been in Norway to gain insight into how future oil and gas revenues can be managed in such a way that they benefit the whole population. Norway has for many years cooperated with the Ugandan authorities in the petroleum sector through the Oil for Development programme.
(Press release)
Minister of International Development Heikki Holmås says Norway is the first country in the world to review its loans to developing countries, in line with the UN Guiding Principles on foreign debt and human rights.
..
..
There have negative reactions from politicians in Iceland to the news that Icelandic young men have been recruited to serve in the Norwegian Army on overseas missions, NRK reports.
..
The Oslo Forum 09 opens on Tuesday. The Forum seeks to provide diverse, frank and discreet discussions between top mediators and other key actors from around the world on major issues affecting peace and conflict today...
The Norwegian Government will cut the production of oil by 100,000 - 200,000 barrels a day, in an effort to stabilize the price of crude on the world market. This was announced by the Oil and Energy Minister Thursday.
..
Foreign Minister Jan Petersen warns Israel against taking any action against Palestinian leader Yassir Arafat. Petersen made the statement after Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon announced that he no longer felt bound by his earlier promise not to harm Arafat...
Norway may be asked to supply troops to an international observer force in the Sudan, says Thorbjoern Jagland, head of the Foreign Relations Committee. There is now hope for peace after 20 years of civil war in the African nation...
The Israeli nuclear engineer Mordehchai Vanunu who was released on Wednesday after 18 years jail, has asked Norway for help to leave Israel on humanitarian grounds. The leader of the Foreign Relations Committe, Thorbjoern Jagland, says his request should be considered....
Palestinian President Yassir Arafat will meet with Norway's Foreign Minister Jan Petersen when he travels to the Middle East on Wednesday. This has been confirmed by a spokesman for President Arafat...
EU's decision to begin negotiations with Turkey is as improtant as the fall of the Berlin Wall. This is the opinion of Norway's former foreign minister, Thorbjoern Jagland....
