A contentious anti-LGBTQ+ measure that would make gay activities punishable by death was recently passed by Ugandan Parliament, drawing vehement criticism from advocates for human rights.
The extreme anti-homosexuality bill, which brings the death penalty and life in prison punishments for gay intercourse and “recruitment, promotion, and funding” of same-sex “activities,” was approved late on Tuesday by all 389 of the legislators with the exception of two.
The draft put out by Robina Rwakoojo, the chairperson for legal and legislative affairs, says, “A person who commits the offense of aggravated homosexuality and is liable, on conviction, to suffer death.”
The new legislation was rejected by just two lawmakers from the ruling party, Fox Odoi-Oywelowo, and Paul Kwizera Bucyana.
“The bill is ill-conceived, it contains provisions that are unconstitutional, reverses the gains registered in the fight against gender-based violence and criminalises individuals instead of conduct that contravenes all known legal norms,” said Odoi-Oywelowo.
“The bill doesn’t introduce any value addition to the statute book and available legislative framework,” he said.
The Ugandan constitutional court later invalidated an earlier version of the measure on procedural grounds after receiving intense international criticism. President Yoweri Museveni will now be given the opportunity to either sign or veto the bill. He appeared to support the bill in a recent speech.
John Musila, one of the MPs present, wore a robe that read “Say No To Homosexual, Lesbianism, Gay.”
The measure is the most recent in a line of losses for LGBTQ+ rights in Africa, where homosexuality is prohibited in most nations. In Uganda, a country with a sizable devout Christian population, homosexual acts already carried a life sentence.
The bill calls for life in prison for “homosexuality” and the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality.” The term “aggravated homosexuality” refers to cases of sex relationships involving HIV-positive individuals, minors, and other vulnerable groups of people. For those who support or fight for LGBTQ rights, sentences of up to 20 years in prison have been proposed.
According to the proposed legislation, a defendant found guilty of “attempted aggravated homosexuality” faces a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison, and “attempted homosexuality” carries a maximum 10-year sentence.
Human rights activists have denounced the new initiative to enact the strict law and called it “hate legislation.”
Gay activist Eric Ndawula Tweeted “Today’s events in Parliament are not just immoral, but a complete assault on humanity. It’s frightening that our MPs’ judgment is clouded by hate & homophobia. Who benefits from this draconian law? It’s a question they’ll likely never answer. #AntiHomosexualityBill2023 Draconian”
Bombastic Kasha also Tweeted in disbelief “Anti-homosexuality bill passed by @Parliament_Ug
of Uganda. Organized crime in e house of our country is very unfortunate.” “We shall continue to fight this injustice. This lesbian woman is Ugandan even this piece of paper will stop me from enjoying my country. Struggle just begun” she added
