Holland stops Ugandan aid, promises flexibility on asylum for gays

DutchNews.nl, Tuesday 25 February 2014

A protester against the Ugandan

gay law. (NOS/EPA)

The Netherlands will stop €7m of its aid to Uganda now the country's leader has signed the controversial anti-gay bill.

President Yoweri Museveni signed the Anti-Homosexuality Bill into law on Monday. The new law includes life sentences for gay sex and same-sex marriage.

Foreign trade and aid minister Lilianne Ploumen and foreign affairs minister Frans Timmermans immediately informed parliament that the €7m aid money donated each year to the Ugandan government for use in improving its judicial system will be stopped.

The €16m which goes towards improving human rights in Uganda and to food projects will continue, the ministers said.

Refugees

Junior justice minister Fred Teeven said on Tuesday the Netherlands will be more flexible in its policy on granting asylum to homosexuals from Uganda in the light of what he called the 'draconian' measures.

The Netherlands must take a more flexible approach to entry procedures and the deportation of failed asylum seekers back to Uganda.

A similar policy also exists towards Iranians, he said.

The Netherlands has very few asylum requests from Uganda, the minister is quoted as saying by Nos television.

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