Uganda will have one of the toughest anti-LGBT+ laws in the world. The country’s president, Yoweri Museveni, has finally signed the repression, which prescribes very severe penalties, from prison to death. Same-sex relationships were already illegal in the country, as in more than 30 African countries, but the new law goes much further. The measure criminalizes sex education for the gay community, makes it illegal not to report what they call aggravated perpetrators of homosexuality to the police, and calls for conversion therapy and “rehabilitation” for homosexuals.
The reform provides for the death penalty for HIV patients for the crime of “aggravated homosexuality”, which includes homosexual sex and homosexual intercourse with minors or persons with disabilities. There are also life sentences for some crimes involving same-sex sex, 20 years for “promoting homosexuality”, and up to 10 years for attempting to commit homosexual acts alone. The law prohibits all forms of same-sex sex and the promotion or recognition of same-sex relationships. Campaigning for LGBT+ rights will also be prohibited, as any legal entity, such as media and NGOs that “knowingly” promotes homosexuality, faces fines and possible suspension.
“The Ugandan president has legalized state-sponsored homophobia and transphobia today,” said Clare Byarugaba, a Ugandan human rights activist. It is a very dark and sad day for the LGBTIQ community, our allies and the whole of Uganda.” He and other activists pledged a legal challenge to the law, which Museveni signed with a gold pen at his desk. The adoption of this law by Parliament on March 21 sparked international outrage. Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, denounced the event as “discriminatory – possibly the worst of its kind in the world”.
At the end of April, President Museveni had asked lawmakers to “re-examine” the text and state that “being gay” is not a crime, only sexual intercourse. In a slightly modified version, approved unanimously on 2 May by only one dissenting vote, MEPs texted that “a person alleged or suspected to be homosexual, who has not had sexual intercourse with another person of the same sex, does not commit the crime of homosexuality”. The less restrictive 2014 anti-LGBT+ law was overturned by a Ugandan court on procedural grounds after Western governments initially suspended some aid, imposed visa restrictions and reduced security cooperation.
The hope of the LGBT+ community is that pressure from the international community can force it to make a U-turn. Uganda receives billions of dollars in foreign aid each year and may now face sanctions. Speaker of the House Anita Annet cheered for the signing of the law. As the Ugandan Parliament, we listened to the concerns of our people and passed laws to protect the sanctity of the family. We stood firm to defend the culture, values and aspirations of our people.” According to Asuman Basalirwa, who initiated the bill, Ara’s US visa will be revoked after the law is signed.
But the measure enjoys wide popular support and opposition is rare in a country that has been ruled with an iron fist by Museveni since 1986. According to some NGOs, the pressure on civil society, lawyers and activists has increased in recent years. Homophobia is prevalent in Uganda, as in the rest of East Africa, and while there has been no recent prosecution of homosexual acts, harassment and intimidation of the LGBT+ community occurs in practice in the country where a very radical evangelical Christianity has developed.
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Source: Today IT
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
