In a verdict delivered on Wednesday in Kampala, Uganda’s Constitutional Court dismissed a petition seeking to annul the nation’s strict anti-LGBTQ laws, which resulted in the suspension of funding from the World Bank.
Expressing disappointment at the ruling, Nicholas Opiyo, one of the lawyers representing the petitioners, stated that they would carefully review the detailed judgment and consider appealing the decision at the Supreme Court.
Enacted last year, the law imposes severe penalties for various offenses related to same-sex relations, including life imprisonment and even death for what is termed “aggravated homosexuality.”
The World Bank responded to the legislation by halting new loans to Uganda, while the United States issued a warning to private investors about the business and reputational risks of operating in the country. Additionally, Uganda was excluded from the preferential African Growth and Opportunity Act trade deal.
The widespread outcry against the law had significant economic implications, leading to a decline in the value of the Ugandan shilling and prompting the central bank to raise interest rates at an emergency meeting held last month.