Uganda: Anti-gay organisation lays off all staff after losing US aid

An anti-gay organisation in Uganda which lost its US funding earlier this year has had to lay off all of its paid staff.

In March, the Obama administration announced that it would cut $6.4million (£3.83m) that was intended for the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda, but would still supply it with $2.3million (£1.37m) for the treatment of around 50,000 people living with HIV or AIDS.

This decision was taken after the multi-faith organisation came out in support of Uganda’s anti-gay law, which was struck down on the 1st of August.

As a result of the funding being taken away, the IRCU has had to cut its workforce from 55 to just 5, and these employees are all volunteers who are only paid an allowance.

The Observer reports that past funding to the IRCU from USAID has totalled $34.5m, accounting for roughly 90% of its funding.

IRCU General Secretary Joshua Kitakule said on 15th August: “They have decided to take away their money, we can’t stop them. We are an organization and we are going to re-strategise and move on.”

A senior member of the organisation who has just been made redundant said that USAID was still funding the HIV/AIDS projects that used to be the IRCU’s responsibility, but through other organisations.

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