The World Bank on Thursday announced it will restart funding to Uganda, ending a nearly two-year suspension that began after the country enacted a strict anti-LGBT law.

The legislation, which includes severe penalties such as life imprisonment and the death penalty, prompted the global lender to halt new financial support in August 2023, citing conflicts with its core values.

The World Bank confirmed it has collaborated with Ugandan authorities to implement strong safeguards addressing potential risks posed by the anti-LGBT law.

A spokesperson told Reuters via email that the mitigation measures applied across all ongoing projects in Uganda have now been deemed satisfactory.

As a result, the Bank has prepared and received Board approval for three new projects targeting critical sectors: social protection, education, and forced displacement/refugees.

The World Bank remains one of Uganda’s largest external financiers, particularly supporting infrastructure development in the transport sector.

The Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA) imposes the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality,” which covers cases such as same-sex relations involving a disabled person or situations where gay sex leads to the transmission of a terminal illness.

Additionally, the law mandates a 20-year prison sentence for anyone found “promoting” homosexuality.