Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2014-06-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she is taking in response to the Ugandan anti-homosexuality act; and what steps she plans to take to encourage its repeal.

Lynne Featherstone

We have consistently raised concerns about the legislation with the Ugandan Government at the most senior levels, and sought assurances on the protection of individuals. Most recently, the Secretary of State for International Development and the Minister for Africa raised the issue with the Ugandan President on 6 May. We will continue to press the Ugandan Government at the highest levels to defend human rights for all.

The UK suspended all Budget Support to the Government of Uganda in 2013 following the misappropriation of donor funds. After the passing of the Anti-Homosexuality Act we assessed our programme to ensure that UK aid was not being provided to organisations that proactively and publically promoted the legislation. Following this, the UK and other donors suspended funding to one organisation. We will continue to monitor this situation. We are also stepping up our support to human rights organisations that protect minority rights in Uganda.