President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda described the decision of the world bank to withhold loans to Uganda as a bait to “coerce” his country to have a rethink in the passing of the anti-homosexuality bill into law.
The World bank had suspended all prospective loans to be given to the country earlier this week.
The Bretton Woods institution described Uganda’s new law as one of the harshest in the world, targeting the LGBTQ communities.
The World Bank stated that Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act “fundamentally contradicts” the institution’s values.
However, Uganda’s President has said that Uganda will develop despite the measure from the World Bank. according to him:
Uganda will develop with or without your loans
“It is therefore unfortunate that the World Bank and other actors dare to want to coerce us into abandoning our faith, culture, principles and sovereignty, using money.”
“We do not need pressure from anybody to know how to solve problems in our society.”
Museveni also revealed that Uganda was continuing discussions with the World Bank.
Meanwhile, Other western nations and international groups have expressed their disdain over the new anti-gay law in Uganda.
These includes the United Nations, foreign governments including the United States, and global rights groups.
The new law which contains provisions making “aggravated homosexuality” a capital offence and imposes penalties for consensual same-sex relations of up to life in prison has gathered different reactions from people in Africa and other parts of the world.
