Uganda hits back at WorldBank over funding freeze
3 min read
Uganda accuses the World Bank of using funding to try to "coerce" the government over its controversial anti-gay legislation
Uganda accuses the World Bank of using funding to try to “coerce” the government over its controversial anti-gay legislation.
Uganda’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs Henry Okello Oryem has called out WorldBank over its move to suspend funding saying it was hypocritical.
He accused the Western entities of being quick to lecture poor countries about democracy, only to turn around and punish them when they do what doesn’t suit the interests of Western powers and allied institutions.
“Stop this hypocrisy,” he said. “The law was passed by Uganda Parliament, these are representatives of the people. That’s democracy.”
His comments followed an announcement by the US-based global lender on Tuesday that it was suspending new loans to the East African country over what is considered among the world’s harshest laws targeting LGBTQ communities.
In a statement on August 8, the Bank said that further funding will be frozen until authorities in Uganda provide adequate policy to protect minorities, including the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and other groups commonly categorized as LGBTQ+. “Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act fundamentally contradicts the World Bank Group’s values. We believe our vision to eradicate poverty on a liveable planet can only succeed if it includes everyone irrespective of race, gender, or sexuality,” the Bank said on Tuesday.
The World Bank’s decision comes after the lender sent a fact-finding mission to Uganda to engage with government officials and stakeholders to verify reports of discrimination against LGBTQ+ persons, following the passing of the controversial law in May.
The Bank’s decision to freeze funding is based on the mission’s report, which revealed that gay persons and others in the LGBTQ+ community in Uganda continued to be harassed, attacked, and discriminated against in both public and private institutions, due to their sexual orientation.
Employees to receive salary for work done anytime they want
Kenya, Uganda seek $6bn in joint bid to take SGR to Central Africa
All civil servants to lose a raft of allowances in the SRC new plan
Azimio and Kenya Kwanza ‘fails’ to agree on the agenda items in their first meeting
Business Billionaire Narendra Raval joins case to support Ruto’s Finance Act 2023
But President Museveni, who signed the measures into law in May, posted on X, the former Twitter, that “Ugandans will develop with or without loans”.
“It is therefore unfortunate that the World Bank and other actors dare to want to coerce us into abandoning our faith, culture, principles, and sovereignty, using money,” the veteran leader said.
“We do not need pressure from anybody to know how to solve problems in our society.”
Museveni nevertheless said Uganda was continuing discussions with the World Bank “so that they and we avoid this diversion if possible”.
Uganda’s Information Minister Chris Baryomunsi also confirmed to AFP earlier Wednesday that consultations were ongoing with the World Bank.
“However, the World Bank and others should be reminded that Uganda is a sovereign country, which takes decisions in the interests of her people, and this is the spirit of the Anti-Homosexuality Act.”
Also read,
Morticians condemn IG Koome over dead body hiring claim
Kenya calls for extradition of WorldCoin founder to the country
Media kicked out of Azimio-Kenya Kwanza bipartisan talks
All public servants to get salary increase, set to be backdated to July
Follow us
