World Bank Freezes Funding to Uganda Amid Human Rights Concerns Over New Anti-Homosexuality Law

The World Bank has taken the unprecedented step of suspending all future funding for projects in Uganda. The decision comes in the wake of growing concerns over human rights violations in the country, particularly in light of the recent enactment of a contentious anti-homosexuality law.

https://twitter.com/WorldBank/status/1689018292810182656

In a statement released Tuesday, the World Bank Group said no new public financing to Uganda will be presented to its Board of Executive Directors until changes are made to align with their policies.

“Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act fundamentally contradicts the World Bank Group’s values. We believe our vision to eradicate poverty on a livable planet can only succeed if it includes everyone irrespective of race, gender, or sexuality. This law undermines those efforts. Inclusion and non-discrimination sit at the heart of our work around the world.” The statement reads.
“Immediately after the law was enacted, the World Bank deployed a team to Uganda to review our portfolio in the context of the new legislation. That review determined additional measures are necessary to ensure projects are implemented in alignment with our environmental and social standards. Our goal is to protect sexual and gender minorities from discrimination and exclusion in the projects we finance. These measures are currently under discussion with the authorities.” The statement adds.

According to the realized statement, No new public financing to Uganda will be presented to our Board of Executive Directors until the efficacy of the additional measures has been tested.Third-party monitoring and grievance redress mechanisms will significantly increase, allowing us to take corrective action as necessary.

In the aftermath of the enactment of the anti-homosexuality law, the World Bank took swift and decisive action by dispatching a dedicated team to Uganda to conduct a comprehensive review of its existing portfolio in light of the new legislation. This proactive step underscored the organization's commitment to upholding its rigorous environmental and social standards while ensuring that projects funded by the World Bank promote inclusivity, equality, and non-discrimination.

The findings of this review have paved the way for additional measures to be implemented, further cementing the World Bank's dedication to protecting the rights of sexual and gender minorities. 

These measures, designed to prevent discrimination and exclusion within the projects financed by the World Bank, represent a critical response to the concerns raised by the international community and human rights advocates.