Two months after Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni signed the controversial Anti-Homosexuality Bill into law, the World Bank has announced suspension of funding to the East African nation.
The multilateral lender in a statement on Tuesday, August 8, noted that the law contradicts its values aimed at eradicating poverty and ensuring equal chances of succeeding in the world.
Accordingly, World Bank had established that there was a need for additional measures to ensure that all people stand to benefit from the projects it’s fianancing in Uganda.
Consequently, the World Bank announced that it would not approve any further public financing to Uganda until it adopts enough measures to ensure security and non-discrimination of minorities.
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“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,” the statement read in part.
“Our goal is to protect sexual and gender minorities from discrimination and exclusion in the projects we finance.”
Third party monitoring
Furthermore, the Washington-based Bank affirmed that it would step up third-party monitoring and grievance redress mechanisms in efforts to ensure non-discrimination.
However, the institution assured that it would “remain committed to helping all Ugandans improve their lives and it was in continued engagement with Ugandan authorities to ensure that enough measures are taken to prevent discrimination of affected people in development.
The passage of the law drew widespread condemnation especially from Western powers and human rights activists.
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For example, the US issued a travel advisory to its citizens warning them against the laws contained in the Act.
In addition, members of the US Congress pressured the World Bank to take action against Uganda for passing the ‘discriminatory’ law.