The United States has imposed sanctions against Uganda over their anti-homosexuality laws.
According to BBC News, the United States revealed that anyone from Uganda who were involved in abuses toward gay people from the country would not be allowed to come to the US. However, Uganda is not feeling the pressure to change their laws.
Passed back in February, the anti-gay law in Uganda reads that anyone who engages in homosexual acts would face a term of life in prison. The White House argues that this type of legislation is not consistent with a commitment toward the protection of human rights in Uganda.
Other sanctions include putting a stop toward funds that would have been helpful to Uganda programs, such as the Ugandan Police Force.
Uganda authorities made their defense of the law known by saying that Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni was demonstrating “Uganda’s independence in the face of Western pressure and provocation.”
Many other nations in Europe have also cut off aid toward Uganda, including Norway and the Netherlands.
Reuters reported that the United States a military exercise that was to take place and also put a restriction on visas.
U.S. administration officials made it clear that the restrictions were for the abuses being made because of the anti-gay law being put into place and in regards to corruption.
They said HIV/AIDS programs, as well as food programs, would not be impacted by the restrictions being put in place.