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Museveni Says Uganda Can Live Without Western Aid After Anti-Gay Law

Museveni Says Uganda Can Live Without Western Aid After Anti-Gay Law

President Yoweri Museveni told a rally of religious leaders, politicians and thousands of supporters on Monday that Uganda could live without aid that Western donors suspended or diverted in protest at an anti-gay bill that became law in February.

Reuters reported that western donors had halted or re-directed about $118 million in aid since Museveni signed the law, which toughened existing rules against gays and prescribed life in jail for what it called “aggravated homosexuality”, such as sex with a minor. Aid from US and Europe accounts for about a third of the east African country’s budget.

“When you hear these Europeans saying they are going to cut aid … we don’t need aid in the first place,” CCTV Africa showed Museveni telling his supporters at a stadium in Kampala.. “Because a country like Uganda is one of the richest on earth.”