Keypoints:
- World Bank resumes funding after 2023 suspension
- Ban followed Uganda’s anti-LGBT legislation
- Safeguards now in place for new development projects
THE World Bank has lifted its nearly two-year freeze on funding to Uganda, signalling a cautious return to development financing in the East African nation despite ongoing concerns over its anti-LGBT legislation.
As reported by Reuters, the move follows the introduction of mitigation measures across existing projects, which the Bank now considers sufficient to reduce the risk of harm linked to Uganda’s controversial Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA).
New safeguards prompt shift
A World Bank spokesperson said the Bank had worked closely with Ugandan authorities to improve oversight and protections on active initiatives.
‘We have now determined the mitigation measures rolled out over the last several months in all ongoing projects in Uganda to be satisfactory,’ Reuters quoted the spokesperson as saying.
With those conditions met, the Bank has approved three new projects focusing on education, social protection, and support for refugees and internally displaced persons — all areas identified as high-impact and high-need.
Frozen in protest
The World Bank suspended new financing to Uganda in August 2023 after the passage of the AHA, a law that drew global condemnation for its harsh penalties against LGBTQ+ individuals.
The legislation includes a death sentence for so-called ‘aggravated homosexuality’ — a broadly defined category that includes same-sex relations involving disabled persons or resulting in transmission of a terminal illness — and a 20-year prison term for “promoting” homosexuality.
The funding freeze marked a rare and pointed rebuke from the global financial institution, which had previously been one of Uganda’s most reliable development partners, especially in infrastructure and social sector investments.
Law remains, scrutiny continues
Although the Bank has resumed engagement, the Anti-Homosexuality Act remains in force, and rights groups have warned that LGBTQ+ communities in Uganda continue to face persecution and violence.
The World Bank did not indicate any change in its stance on the law itself but noted that its renewed involvement would be limited to sectors where it can ensure protections are in place.
Uganda’s government has yet to issue an official statement responding to the Bank’s decision.
