- He said the Parliament is the voice of Ugandans and they have his full support.
- He spoke after the World Bank said it had effectively cut any new development financing to Uganda, over the recently passed Anti-Homosexuality law.
Image: FILE
Senate Majority leader Aaron Cheruiyot has said that he stands with the Ugandan Parliament after the World Bank stopped any new funding to the country over the anti-homosexuality law.
According to Cheruiyot, Ugandan legislators should do their work without any form of outside interference.
He said the Parliament is the voice of Ugandans and they have his full support.
The senator said the World Bank should also desist from intimidating the Ugandan people because the decisions made are for their good.
"Parliaments are voices of the people. They must legislate without undue influence from any quarters. Otherwise, it amounts to a dilution of sovereignty," Cheruiyot said.
"I stand with the Parliament of Uganda. World Bank should not intimidate them. To each, their own. That's Democracy. Respect it."
His remarks come after the World Bank said it had effectively cut any new development financing to Uganda, over the recently passed Anti-Homosexuality law.
According to World Bank, the law contradicts its values and undermines the bank's inclusion efforts.
"Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act fundamentally contradicts the World Bank Group’s values. We believe our vision to eradicate poverty on a liveable planet can only succeed if it includes everyone irrespective of race, gender, or sexuality," World Bank said in a statement.
"This law undermines those efforts. Inclusion and non-discrimination sit at the heart of our work around the world."
The World Bank said its goal is to protect sexual and gender minorities from discrimination and exclusion in projects they finance.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has, however, insisted that his country will develop, with or without loans from the World Bank.
"Ugandans will develop with or without loans. It is therefore unfortunate that the World Bank and other actors dare to want to coerce us into abandoning our faith, culture, principles and sovereignty, using money," he said.
Opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine also called out the World Bank for cutting funding to Uganda.
Wine, in a statement, said it was disturbing that the World Bank was only prioritising gay rights at the expense of others.
He accused the World Bank of ignoring all other human rights violations that have been occurring in the East African country.
"It's disturbing how institutions like these give priority to only gay rights and ignore all the other gross human rights violations, including mass murder, torture, detention without charge, and undermining democracy by rigging elections. Dear World Bank, all human rights are human rights!" he said.