"Even though no German funds are affected (by the scandal), I have ordered that Germany, in unison with other aid donors, withhold payment of budget aid," German International Development Minister Dirk Niebel said. "We thereby send a clear message (Aid) is an expression of our highest trust in responsible governance by our co-operation partners," he said in a statement issued on Friday. He gave no figures for the amount in question but said aid pledges for 2013-2015 had also been "put on ice".
Uganda has said it is determined to punish all officials involved in embezzling the money, which was meant to fund recovery efforts in northern areas of the country after a lengthy insurgency by the Lord's Resistance Army. Niebel said Germany was also disturbed by suggestions that Uganda provided logistical and material support for the M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo and said the claims needed to be verified. Uganda denies backing the rebels in its western neighbour. Germany was equally concerned about legislation that will impose an array of jail terms for convicted homosexuals, including life imprisonment in certain circumstances.