World Bank Suspends Funding for Uganda Projects Over Anti-Homosexuality Law
The World Bank has decided to halt future funding for projects in Uganda, citing concerns about human rights violations due to the recent enactment of the anti-homosexuality law.
A statement issued by the Bank indicates that the suspension of further funding will continue until Ugandan authorities implement adequate policies to safeguard the rights of minorities, including LGBTQ+ individuals.
"The Anti-Homosexuality Act in Uganda is fundamentally at odds with the core values of the World Bank Group. Our mission to combat poverty on a sustainable planet can only be realized if it encompasses all people, regardless of their race, gender, or sexual orientation," the Bank stated on Tuesday. "This law contradicts those efforts. Our global work revolves around inclusion and non-discrimination."
In May, President Yoweri Museveni signed the Anti-Homosexuality Act into law, introducing severe penalties, including the possibility of a death sentence, for "aggravated homosexuality." The bill is an extreme legislation against the LGBTIQ+ community, imposing the death penalty, life imprisonment or between 10 and 20 years in prison for “attempted homosexuality” and “promotion of homosexuality”.
This move drew condemnation from human rights organizations and Western nations, including the United States, which threatened sanctions.
In June, the United States responded by imposing travel restrictions on Ugandan officials in response to the legislation, which was signed by Museveni. Museveni has referred to homosexuality as a psychological disorder and has rejected international criticism of the legislation, which he has defended as necessary to stop the LGBTQ community from trying to “recruit” people.
"The problem is that, yes, you are disoriented. You have got a problem to yourself. Now, don't try to recruit others. If you try to recruit people into a disorientation, then we go for you. We punish you," he said.
Several African countries, including Nigeria, Mauritania, Sudan, and Somalia, enforce prohibitions that lead to severe consequences such as lengthy prison sentences, social exclusion, or even the death penalty for individuals expressing same-sex affection or identifying as lesbian, gay, or transgender. In contrast, numerous other countries, such as Algeria, The Gambia, Malawi, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, criminalize LGBTIQ+ individuals.