• The World Bank will resume funding to Uganda after a two-year suspension over an anti-LGBT legislation.
• New "mitigation measures" will be implemented to protect vulnerable communities.
• The Anti-Homosexuality Act includes severe penalties, including death and life sentences.

The World Bank has announced its decision to resume funding to Uganda, lifting a ban that had been in place for nearly two years following the enactment of one of the world's strictest anti-LGBT laws. This suspension originally began in August 2023 when Uganda's parliament passed the Anti-Homosexuality Act, which encompasses punishments including the death penalty for certain same-sex relations. In its recent communications, the World Bank emphasized that it had worked with Ugandan authorities to implement "mitigation measures" to ensure the safety of LGBTQ individuals involved in its projects, according to BBC and Reuters.

The World Bank's spokesperson confirmed that the measures now in place across ongoing projects are deemed satisfactory. The funding will focus on critical sectors such as social protection, education, and support for refugees, highlighting the Bank's intent to align its mission with development needs despite the controversial legal backdrop in Uganda. This shift comes amidst continuing scrutiny from human rights advocates, who question the effectiveness of the newly introduced safeguards in protecting vulnerable populations in the face of ongoing violence and discrimination, as reported by Africanews.