World Bank Imposes Measures to Counter Uganda's Anti-Gay Legislation Impact

The World Bank has announced measures to ensure that its new loans to Uganda do not support any form of discrimination stemming from Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Act, which mandates harsh penalties for same-sex relations. The bank had halted lending to Uganda last year, citing the law’s inconsistency with its values.

The World Bank announced on Thursday new measures to ensure that recipients of fresh loans to Uganda will not face discrimination due to the country's stringent anti-gay legislation. Uganda enacted the Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA) in May last year, leading to widespread Western condemnation and U.S. sanctions.

The act criminalizes same-sex intercourse with life imprisonment and imposes the death penalty for so-called aggravated homosexuality. Following the enactment of the law, the World Bank suspended new loans to Uganda, deeming the legislation contradictory to its core values.

The World Bank, a key financier for Uganda's infrastructure projects, stated that it would not propose any new public financing for the country until appropriate mitigation measures are implemented. An independent monitoring system to ensure compliance with these measures will be established. Despite the measures, LGBT activists argue that these efforts are insufficient and merely provide an illusion of protection.

(With inputs from agencies.)