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Ugandan Government: The West can keep its ‘homo’ aid

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The Ugandan Government has responded to the withdrawal of aid by several western countries in typical robust fashion.

“The West can keep their ‘aiid’ [sic] to Uganda over homos, we shall still develop without it,” government spokesman Ofwono Opondo fired back in a message on Twitter.

Mr Opondo suggested that donations would continue by many governments in some form.

He said the actions of the West amounted to “colonialism” and “imperialism”.

International commendation of Uganda shows no signing of abating following Monday’s decision of President Yoweri Museveni to sign the country’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill into law.

Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands have become the first three countries to cut their aid to Uganda.

The Dutch Government said in a statement on Thursday that it is suspending aid to Uganda’s Government but will continue supporting non-governmental groups, joining the governments of Norway and Denmark in taking similar action.

Sweden has also said it will review its aid spending.

“It’s actually a trap for dependence,” Mr Opondo said, talking about donor support. “It’s actually good that they removed the aid, so that we can live within the means we have.”

US Secretary of State John Kerry compared the “flat-out morally wrong” and “atrocious” homophobic law to anti-Semitic legislation in Nazi Germany or apartheid in South Africa.

Mr Opondo criticised the remarks on Twitter and then incorrectly stated that Arizona had passed anti-gay legislation (the state’s governor actually vetoed the bill on Wednesday evening).

The UK Government confirmed to PinkNews on Tuesday that it only gives aid to NGOs in Uganda and not the country’s government.

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