Press Release
Ministry of Foreign Affairs

21. july 1995

Norway pledges USD 15 million at the Consultative Group meeting for Uganda - Government to Government co-operation to be discussed shortly.

Norway has announced a USD 15 million pledge at the Consultative Group meeting for Uganda.The Norwegian pledge marks a renewed commitment towards Uganda.

Uganda was one of the first countries to receive Norwegian development aid when bilateral cooperation was initiated in 1962. However, Norway withdrew its assistance to the country, after Idi Amin's take-over. In the late 1980s Norway resumed the provision of assistance, which has been channelled mainly through NGOs and multilateral organisations.

A Norwegian delegation is scheduled to visit Uganda in September with a view to signing an agreement on bilateral development cooperation between the two countries.

It is expected that the bilateral assistance will be channelled to the following sectors:

• Democracy and human rights. Norway has supported elections and the constitutional process in Uganda and will continue its assistance in connection with the parliamentary and presidential elections through the UNDP. Assistance to a Legal Aid Project through the Uganda Law Society will be continued and extended.
• Debt relief. Uganda received nearly USD 12 million in debt relief last year. Additional debt relief assistance will be considered.
• Energy/hydropower sector. Norway has been providing support this sector for some time. Assistance for the rehabilitation and expansion of Owen Falls will be continued and will constitute a substantial part (approx. USD 10 million) of Norwegian assistance in 1996. A number of project proposals from the Uganda Electricity Board (UEB) are currently under consideration. Institutional cooperation between the UEB and Norwegian institutions may be possible.
• Support to Reform Programmes. Norway supported the Civil Service Reform Programme with an estimated USD 2 million in 1994 and will continue its assistance to this programme. Support to the military demobilisation programme is being considered.
• Private enterprises development. Norway has supported a pre-feasibility study for Promotion of Rural Initiatives and Development Enterprises (PRIDE) with regard to establishing a programme in Uganda. A proposal for a project of approximately USD 3.2 million over the next five years is currently being considered.
• Natural Resource Management - Environment and Forestry Sectors. A Forestry Sector Programme will be negotiated. It is expected that the programme will include Combined Forestry Training, a comprehensive Biomass Study, Peri-urban Forest Rehabilitation, support for the Institute for Forestry of Makerere University and the Mount Elgon Sustainable Development and Forest Conservation Project. Norwegian assistance to this sector amounted to approximately USD 2 million in 1994.
• NGO support. Extensive support through the NGO system, mainly to the health and social sectors, will be continued at a level of approximately USD 6 million.

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Lagt inn 27 juli 1995 av Statens forvaltningstjeneste, ODIN-redaksjonen