Politics
Anti-homosexuality Bill!! US Government Leaves Museveni Government In Tears – Cuts Funding For Ministries, AIDS Assistance
In an effort to pressure President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni’s government to repeal the Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA), the Biden administration has reduced its support to Uganda.
President Museveni’s signing of the AHA drew criticism from the US and other Western powers. President Biden views the AHA as a severe violation of universal human rights, risking economic growth for Uganda. As part of the response, the White House has outlined a reduction in government-to-government support, impacting three ministries, according to a fact sheet.
“We are curtailing direct government-to-government funding to programs implemented with Uganda. This includes new restrictions and redirections of impacted assistance, including through the Department of Defense and the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR),” read the fact sheet in part.
The US government will no longer give at least Shs57bn to the ministries of health, tourism and agriculture.White House also says it will review assistance to the Ugandan military and related security operations.
“The Department of Defense is pausing approximately $15 million for all biological threat reductions activities with the Ugandan Ministries of Health, Agriculture, and Tourism, and will continue to review U.S. government-funded security assistance and military cooperation activities,” said the White House.
Washington plans to shift over $5 million in HIV/AIDS funding from the Ugandan government to non-governmental partners via PEPFAR.
“The U.S. Government also will redirect more than $5 million through PEPFAR from the Government of Uganda to non-governmental implementing partners due to concerns over how the AHA impacts the Government of Uganda’s ability to deliver services in a non-discriminatory manner.”
This decision is influenced by concerns about the Anti-Homosexuality Act affecting Uganda’s ability to provide services without discrimination.In response to the initial threat of funding pause, Ugandan politicians expressed a preference for death over accepting homosexuality.
The funding reduction follows the imposition of sanctions by the US government on Uganda Prisons boss Johnson Byabashaija, citing various issues, including overseeing invasive examinations of homosexuals.