Kampala – The US government has continued to cut aid to Uganda with the tourism sector and the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda becoming the latest to experience cuts because of the anti-gays law.
At least $6.4 million (about Shs16 billion) intended for Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU) to fight HIV has been diverted to other organisations while $3 million (about Shs7 billion) designated for tourism and biodiversity promotion will be redirected to NGOs working on biodiversity protection.
The Washington Post quoted the US National Security Council spokesperson, Mr Jonathan Lalley, warning they would continue “to look at additional steps we may take, to work to protect LGBTs from violence and discrimination and to urge Uganda to repeal this abhorrent law”.
But the IRCU, an organisation that brings together different religious groups, told the Daily Monitor yesterday that they had not received any official communication about aid cuts.
“We have not been officially informed about the cuts. We are waiting for official communication,” the IRCU spokesperson, Ms Nuliat Nambazira said.
The Public Affairs officer at the American embassy in Uganda, Mr Daniel Travis, said they are still looking at how they can protect LGBT.
By Risdel Kasasira
Source – Daily Monitor
