First published on August 09, 2023 at 12:21PM
As a way of compelling President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni to reconsider his view on gay rights, the World Bank has suspended funding to Uganda over the Anti-Homosexuality Act that was passed a few months ago.
The World Bank said the Anti-Homosexuality Act “fundamentally contradicts the World Bank Group’s values” and that it believed that “our vision to eradicate poverty on a livable planet can only succeed if it includes everyone irrespective of race, gender, or sexuality.”
After the passing of the legislation and President Museveni’s nod for the same, the World Bank said it undertook a review of its projects in Uganda, and has since concluded that the anti-gay law undermines the work.
“Inclusion and non-discrimination sit at the heart of our work around the world. Immediately after the law was enacted, the World Bank deployed a team to Uganda to review our portfolio in the context of the new legislation,” said the World Bank Group.
“That review determined additional measures are necessary to ensure projects are implemented in alignment with our environmental and social standards. Our goal is to protect sexual and gender minorities from discrimination and exclusion in the projects we finance. These measures are currently under discussion with the authorities.”
A decision has been reached to stop funding any Ugandan projects until the World Bank Group is convinced that its efforts will not be undermined under the anti-gay legal environment.
“No new public financing to Uganda will be presented to our Board of Executive Directors until the efficacy of the additional measures has been tested. Third-party monitoring and grievance redress mechanisms will significantly increase, allowing us to take corrective action as necessary,” the Group announced.
“The World Bank Group has a longstanding and productive relationship with Uganda; and we remain committed to helping all Ugandans—without exception—escape poverty, access vital services, and improve their lives.”
Apart from the World Bank, the US Government has threatened to stop giving Museveni’s government money to buy ARVs for HIV/AIDS patients in what looked like an ‘ACCEPT BISIYAGA OR DIE.’ (Read Story Here).
But despite such threats, the Ugandan Parliament – in an IF WE DIE WE DIE statement – passed the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, and the MPs are being openly supported by the Anglican Church of Uganda which has broken away from Canterbury over gay relationships and marriages. (Read Stories Here and There).
Meanwhile, the US government has announced sanctions for Ugandan government officials, including Parliament’s Speaker whose Visa was cancelled. Ugandan President Museveni has since revealed what he will do if the US, World Bank and over agencies stop funding Ugandan projects. (See Details Here, There and Over There).
It should be remembered the the World Bank’s decision suspending funding to Uganda has come a few days after the UN Human Rights Office in Uganda closed over Museveni’s orders. At least 40 Ugandan NGOs, government and international agencies will lose funding over the closure of the office. (See Details Here and There).
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