Kampala — Britain has cut 15 million pounds (Sh1.9 billion) in aid to Uganda and withheld another Sh16 billion over the "events surrounding" the arrest and trial of opposition leader Kizza Besigye, delays in the political transition, and overspending on public administration.

Secretary of State for International Development Hilary Benn announced the aid cut in a speech before the House of Commons in London on Tuesday, the British High Commission in Kampala said in a statement.

"I am concerned by recent developments in Uganda and I have decided to cut 15 million (pounds) from our planned budget support this year, and postpone a decision on whether to provide a further 5 million until after the election," Mr Benn told the Commons.

President Museveni.

The statement from the High Commission said the aid cut follows an economic and governance assessment which raised concerns over the commitment of President Museveni's government to "the independence of the judiciary, freedom of the press and freedom of association following the events surrounding the arrest and trial of the leader of the Forum for Democratic Change.

In response to the aid cut, the minister of State for Information, Dr James Nsaba Buturo, told Daily Monitor by telephone yesterday that the British action, announced a day after Sweden cut aid to Uganda by US$8.5 million, was "co-ordinated pressure in the mistaken view that they will derail the way we are doing things".

He said: "This is what they call drip-drop support; it is their right, they have a view, we don't agree with that view. We are totally satisfied that everything is in accordance with the road map; they have a different notion of democracy and we don't believe that what we have here is not democracy."

Dr Besigye, the FDC leader and presidential candidate, was arrested on November 17, a few weeks after he returned from four years in exile. He was charged with treason, concealment of treason and rape.

He was subsequently charged in the military General Court Martial with terrorism and illegal possession of firearms. Dr Besigye has denied the first set of charges in the High Court and refused to take a plea on the second. He has petitioned the Constitutional Court arguing that the GCM has no legal mandate to try him and that he is being subjected to 'double jeopardy' by being tried in separate courts over similar allegations.

Britain says it is also concerned about "delays in the government's own road map for the political transition."