SDGs Minister Kasule Lumumba Scoffs At World Bank For Cutting Ugandan Aid

The minister who coordinates sustainable development goals (SDGs) in President Yoweri Museveni government has said Uganda will now focus on its under-exploited resources to bridge the gap left by the World Bank decision to cut aid extended to the east African country.

Speaking at the Kampala SDGs festival at KCCA grounds in lugogo, the minister said the government has already invested in public transport, railway and tourism sectors.

“We are now going to invest more in agriculture, innovation and information communication technology (ICT). These are the hanging apples that we must go for aggressively,” she said.

The anti-homosexuality act (aha) was passed following several cries from religious and cultural leaders over people who were promoting this detestable act in schools and the general societal spheres.

Several attempts had been made to ensure such people are eliminated and some like Nakigudde Tisha Kalule who was caught with one Daphne Ayesigye in Mayirye Gayaza in august 2021 are still on the run. She was caught by her sister-in-law in her husband’s house and fled the country before the law could catch up with her.

WANTED:Nakigudde Tisha Kalule

She and other LGBTQ advocates have since either gone out of the country or chosen to operate covertly in engaging or promoting the vise especially in single-sex school which forced cultural, religious and political leaders to advocate for a stringent law specifically against people identifying themselves as LGBTQ, organizations supporting them or anybody who fails to report any person he/she suspects to be gay or belonging to the LGBTQ group.

The law was passed early this year attracting threats of action against the Uganda government from the international community which have been in turn rebuffed by Kampala officials. The World Bank announced on Wednesday (august 9, 2023) that it had cut its support to Uganda until the recently enacted anti-homosexuality act is scrapped off law books. President Yoweri Museveni however responded with a strong statement warning that the west should not coerce Ugandans to abandon their faith, culture, principles and sovereignty, using money. He said the west is just underestimating African potential.

The Kampala people’s SDGs festival was attended by, among others, the UN resident coordinator Suzan Ngogi Namondo, the Danish ambassador to Uganda and several government officials. A number of civil society organizations, government agencies and local artists showcased what they do towards attainment of SDGs by 2030.