On Thursday, in response to a hard-line law that imposes strict penalties against homosexuality, the United States cut aid to Uganda and also imposed visa restrictions on people believed to be involved in human rights violations.
In a statement, the White House said the restrictions were made in order to "reinforce our support for human rights of all Ugandans regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity." Homosexuality is illegal in Uganda, and in February, President Yoweri Museveni signed a new law that places those found guilty of "aggravated homosexuality" in jail for life. As Reuters reports, before the White House's announcement on Thursday, many Western donors — including in the U.S. — had already stopped or re-directed close to $118 million in aid to Uganda.
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