World Bank says no new funding to Uganda over anti-gay legislation

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — The World Bank mentioned it won’t contemplate new loans to Uganda after the East African nation earlier this yr enacted an anti-gay invoice that rights teams and others have condemned.

The World Bank had deployed a group to Uganda after the legislation was enacted in May and decided that extra measures had been obligatory to make sure initiatives align with the financial institution’s environmental and social requirements.

“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 World Bank Group mentioned in an announcement on Tuesday.

“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,” it added.

The anti-gay laws, which prescribes the dying penalty for some gay acts, was signed into legislation in May. It has widespread assist at residence, and Ugandan officers have been defiant amid concern that companions such because the World Bank and others would possibly withdraw sources over the laws. Some officers have advised that the funding threats are inappropriate.

It was not instantly doable to get a remark from Ugandan finance authorities, who for months have been attempting to safe new funding from the nation’s prime multilateral lender.

The World Bank assertion famous that regardless of the newest determination it stays “committed to helping all Ugandans – without exception – escape poverty, access vital services, and improve their lives.”

The U.N. Human Rights Office has mentioned the Ugandan legislation is “draconian and discriminatory,” describing it as ”a recipe for systematic violations of the rights” of LGBTQ+ individuals and others. The U.S. has warned of financial penalties.

Activists and a few lecturers have challenged the legislation in courtroom, nevertheless it stays unclear when hearings will start.