The World Bank has stated that it will stop providing loans to Uganda because a new anti-LGBT law contradicts its core values.
Homosexuality was already illegal in Uganda, but the new law increases the penalties for same-sex activity to life imprisonment.
The World Bank said that it is committed to helping all Ugandans, regardless of their sexual orientation, to improve their lives and access vital services.
This decision comes at a time when other donor countries are also reconsidering their support for Uganda in light of the new law.
The World Bank’s new president, Ajay Banga, has been under pressure to respond to the new anti-LGBTQ law.
In June, a coalition of civic groups sent a letter to Banga calling for specific, concrete, and timely actions in response to the law, including suspending future lending to the country.
In response, the government accused the World Bank of hypocrisy, pointing out that it lends to countries in the Middle East and Asia that have even harsher laws against homosexuality. The World Bank has not yet responded to this accusation.
