By Our Reporter
The World Bank has officially lifted its suspension on new funding to Uganda, marking a cautious return to development financing nearly two years after freezing support in protest of the country’s controversial Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA).
According to reports, the decision follows the successful implementation of mitigation measures across existing World Bank-financed projects, which the institution now deems sufficient to reduce the risk of harm associated with the law.
A World Bank spokesperson confirmed that the Bank had worked extensively with Ugandan authorities to strengthen project oversight and implement safeguards across its portfolio.
“We have now determined the mitigation measures rolled out over the last several months in all ongoing projects in Uganda to be satisfactory,” the spokesperson said.
As a result, the Bank has approved three new projects in Uganda. These will focus on education, social protection, and support for refugees and internally displaced persons—sectors identified as both high-priority and high-impact amid Uganda’s ongoing development challenges.
The World Bank suspended new lending to Uganda in August 2023, following the enactment of the Anti-Homosexuality Act. The law imposes penalties, including the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality”—a term defined broadly to include consensual same-sex acts under certain conditions—and a 20-year sentence for “promoting” homosexuality.
At the time, the World Bank cited incompatibility with its core values, including human rights and non-discrimination, as the basis for the freeze. The move marked a rare and highly visible rebuke from one of Uganda’s largest and longest-standing development partners.
While the resumption of funding signals renewed engagement, the Anti-Homosexuality Act remains in force, and human rights organizations continue to report widespread harassment, violence, and arrests of shameless LGBTQ+ individuals across the country.
The World Bank emphasized that its new projects would only proceed in areas where adequate safeguards are in place to protect vulnerable communities and ensure adherence to its operational policies.
Uganda’s government has not yet issued an official response to the Bank’s announcement.
The decision to resume funding underscores the Bank’s complex balancing act—supporting critical development needs in Uganda while navigating the political and human rights implications of controversial national legislation.
As the country approaches the 2026 general elections, Uganda’s political environment remains under close international scrutiny, particularly around issues of governance, civil liberties.