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The Anti-homosexuality Bill was finally passed, will the taps close? [EDITOR'S OPINION]

Uganda has once again made headlines in international media.

Members Of the Ugandan Parliament

Reason: The Ugandan Parliament passed the popular Anti-homosexuality Bill criminalising homosexuality in all its forms.

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Popular because majority of Ugandans are in full support of the Bill most citing Christian and African/Ugandan values.

Having sexual intercourse with a person of the same sex is not our culture. Besides, our religious values don’t allow us to indulge in such acts,” a lady I talked to early this week told me.

Those against the Bill argue that Uganda stands to lose financial support from donor countries such as United States, United Kingdom and European Union et cetera, and that it would be hard for the third world country to attract foreign direct investment, a strategy the Government of Uganda has banked on for years in its effort to drive economic growth and development.

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This right here is going to be the centre of our discussion today.

Uganda, just like most third world countries, is hugely dependent on foreign aid. Sectors such as the health sector have relied more on aid offered by the United States and United Kingdom Governments.

Donor countries today, unlike in the past, have provided aid indirectly more than directly through agencies such as USAID, UKAID among others. Their reasoning is that aid directly donated to the Ugandan Government is misused through corruption.

According to the World Bank, Uganda received $3.4b in 2016, $3.7b in 2017, $3.5b in 2018, $3.6b in 2019, and $3.6b in 2020 in foreign aid both directly and indirectly.

Much as the western world has publicly condemned the passing of the Bill, it is unlikely that they will cut off the financial support to Uganda.

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They could choose to bank roll the Ugandan Government more and directly this time around despite the rampant corruption and here’s why;

The reason is largely political/geopolitical.

Uganda sits at the heart of mineral rich Sub Saharan Africa, and working closely with any Government in power in the East African country is the US, UK and EU’s priority in their foreign policy towards Africa.

The US Government, mostly, which is Uganda’s largest donor country, looks at Uganda as a key ally it could use to fight off the ever-increasing Chinese influence on the continent.

The world stage today is different from how it was 10 or 20 years ago.

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Earlier, western countries could easily punish a country that goes against their wishes. They (most especially the US) dominated in every world affair.

Today this is likely to be different.

China has grown into a worthy competitor on the global stage, and has made allies such as Russia considered to be foes of the United States.

The US Government is looking at the war to curtail the growing influence of China across the globe as the bigger war.

The US and other western countries could choose to accommodate Uganda with its Anti-homosexuality Bill and focus on the bigger war with China which means more cash for Uganda.

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