World Bank Suspends Funding To Uganda Over Enactment Of Anti-LBGTQ Law

• World Bank said the newly enacted Anti-Homosexuality Act in Uganda undermined its values
• They said their goal is to protect sexual and gender minorities from discrimination and exclusion in the projects they finance
• The World Bank Group said they have a longstanding and productive relationship with Uganda and are committed to helping all Ugandans

The World Bank has suspended funding for projects in Uganda, citing human rights violations after the enactment of the anti-homosexuality law.

In a statement on Tuesday, August 9, the Bank stated that they had stopped funding until Uganda provided adequate policies to protect minorities, including the LGBTQ+ community.

The World Bank stated that the Anti-Homosexuality Act goes against its values, adding that they firmly believe in eradicating poverty on a livable planet.

They stated this was only achievable if it included everyone, regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation.

“This law undermines those efforts. Inclusion and non-discrimination sit at the heart of our work around the world," read the statement in part.

According to the bank, they had stopped financing any projects until additional measures were implemented to address the exclusion of minority groups.

"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," continued the statement.

What was World Bank's defence?

The group explained that after the law was enacted, they sent a team to Uganda to assess the situation before deciding.

They observed that the team reported that additional measures were necessary to ensure projects were implemented in alignment with environmental and social standards.

"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. 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," added the bank.

Museveni lauds Africans for rejecting LGBTQ

President Yoweri Museveni has previously called out Western countries for imposing LGBTQ agenda on Africans and sternly warned that his government will not allow it.

During the commemoration of the life of former Archbishop Janani Luwum, Museveni stated that homosexuality has no place in Africa.

"I want to congratulate the Ugandan believers for rejecting homosexuality. There are some issues with these Europeans. We've been telling them this problem of homosexuality, it is not something that you should normalise and I told them there were few homosexuals before they came here," he said amid cheers.