World Bank has halted funding to Uganda over her recently passed Anti-Homosexuality act 2023 that barrs LGBTQ activities and its promotion in Uganda.
The controversial Act was signed into law at the beginning of this year and imposes a life sentence upon those found guilty of being involved in acts of homosexuality and its promotion. The act has since its inception infringed the rights of the LGBTQ community.
According to a statement released by world Bank on August 8th, there will be no more public financing to Uganda till a review is done to ensure the new act aligns with the world Bank’s values among which is inclusivity irrespective of race, gender or sexuality.
According to the statement, the Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023 undermines the efforts to eradicate poverty for all, including sexual minorities.
“Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act fundamentally contradicts the World Bank Group’s values. We believe our vision to eradicate poverty on a livable planet can only succeed if it includes everyone irrespective of race, gender, or sexuality. This law undermines those efforts. Inclusion and non-discrimination sit at the heart of our work around the world,” the statement reads in part.
The World Bank had earlier deployed a team to Uganda to review its portfolio in the context of the new legislation.
The review determined additional measures are necessary to ensure projects are implemented in alignment with its environmental and social standards.
World Bank states that its goal is “to protect sexual and gender minorities from discrimination and exclusion.”
Uganda first passed the Anti-Homosexuality Act in 2013 but the law was nullified a year later due to lack of quorum at the time of its passing.
The controversial law returned to the Ugandan parliament this year and was passed with limited opposition.
Nickson Maberi
The writer is a Ugandan Journalist