standalone programmer

Yes it is. I have been programming an Atmega32U4 with it repeatedly.

And plugging it into the ICSP header on a Uno for the ATmega8U2 shows it is ready to upload/download stuff:

Atmega hex file uploader.
Written by Nick Gammon.
Version 1.12
Reading SD card ...

HEX files in root directory:

BLINK1.HEX    :       4603 bytes.
BLINKC~1.HEX  :       4616 bytes.  Created: 2012-08-05 09:28:00.  Modified: 2012-08-05 09:28:00
BLINK_~1.HEX  :      14528 bytes.  Created: 2012-10-05 12:38:28.  Modified: 2012-10-05 12:51:36
SKETCH~1.HEX  :      14618 bytes.  Created: 2012-10-05 13:01:36.  Modified: 2012-10-05 13:11:34
LED_BL~1.HEX  :      14618 bytes.  Created: 2012-10-05 13:11:58.  Modified: 2012-10-05 14:32:36
LED_TE~1.HEX  :      12041 bytes.  Created: 2012-10-05 13:47:20.  Modified: 2012-10-05 14:25:18

--------- Starting ---------

Attempting to enter programming mode ...
Entered programming mode OK.
Signature = 0x1E 0x93 0x89 
Processor = ATmega8U2
Flash memory size = 8192 bytes.
LFuse = 0xEF 
HFuse = 0xD9 
EFuse = 0xF4 
Lock byte = 0xCF 
Clock calibration = 0x94 
Actions:
 [E] erase flash
 [F] modify fuses
 [L] list directory
 [R] read from flash (save to disk)
 [V] verify flash (compare to disk)
 [W] write to flash (read from disk)
Enter action:
Programming mode off.