The World Bank announced on Thursday that it is resuming financial support to Uganda, nearly two years after suspending new funding due to the country’s controversial anti-LGBT law, which includes harsh penalties such as life imprisonment and the death sentence.
In August 2023, the bank froze new loans to Uganda following the passage of the Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA), stating that the legislation was at odds with the institution’s core principles.
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A World Bank spokesperson told Reuters via email that the organization had collaborated with Ugandan authorities to implement strong safeguards to reduce any potential harm caused by the law.
“We have now assessed the safeguards implemented across all ongoing projects in Uganda and found them to be satisfactory,” the spokesperson said, requesting anonymity.
As a result, the Bank has introduced three new initiatives focused on critical development areas—social protection, education, and support for displaced people and refugees—which have received Board approval.
The World Bank remains a key financier for Uganda, particularly in sectors like transportation infrastructure.
The AHA prescribes the death penalty for cases classified as “aggravated homosexuality,” which includes same-sex relations involving individuals with disabilities or where the act leads to the transmission of a terminal illness. The law also imposes a 20-year prison sentence for actions deemed to be “promoting” homosexuality.
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