EU’s continued funding to Uganda has sparked criticism from LGBTQ+ campaigners

The European Union (EU) announced in June that it would continue to fund Uganda, despite the country's recent enactment of a highly contentious anti-LGBTQ+ law in May, which has drawn major worldwide attention due to its provision for the death sentence for particular same-sex acts. This move has ignited a massive outcry and backlash from the global LGBTQ+ community.

Jutta Urpilainen, the European Commissioner for International Partnerships, stated in a written statement delivered to the European Parliament on Wednesday that withholding financial assistance from Uganda due to its legislation, which mandates the death penalty for specific same-sex activities, would result in the withholding of critical support from vulnerable communities, jurist.org reports.

In response to the statement, Convening for Equality Uganda stated «The recent EU announcement misses a critical opportunity to take more strategic action to protect the fundamental principle of non-discrimination – something the EU and EU member states profess a deep commitment to».