2023-05-02 14:44:00
On news that the Ugandan Parliament has passed the Anti-Homosexuality Act after the President referred the bill to him for review, confirming that the State has institutionalized discrimination by criminalizing sexual relations between people of the same sex, Flavia Mwangovya, Amnesty International Deputy Regional Director, said:
“The revised bill continues to criminalize consensual same-sex relations and maintains the death penalty for ‘aggravated homosexuality,’ a general designation that includes same-sex sexual relations living with The hiv. Continues to allow 20 years in prison to be imposed for promoting homosexualitywhich could leave any advocacy work in favor of the rights of LGBTI people in the country outlawed.
It is abhorrent that the Ugandan Parliament has kept the Anti-Homosexuality Bill passed by itself in March as it is.. This derogatory law violates the human rights of LGBTI people in Uganda, including their right to privacy and to be free from discrimination and their right to equal protection of the law.
The law returned to the hands of President Museveni, who could sign it, veto it, or refer it back to Parliament.
This law will have devastating consequences for LGBTI people in Uganda, already subjected to persecution and discrimination. It will encourage violence and discrimination against them and reinforce the stigma and stereotypes associated with homosexuality. It will also have a deterrent effect on freedom of expression, since those who support LGBTI rights may face persecution and imprisonment.
The President of Uganda should immediately veto this law and take steps to protect the human rights of all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Amnesty International is also calling on the international community to urgently press the Ugandan government to protect the rights of LGBTI people in the country.”
The 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Law provides for life imprisonment for same-sex sexual conduct, and up to 10 years in prison for attempted same-sex sexual relations. It also imposes the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality” and punishes the “promotion” of homosexuality, a provision that encourages homophobia.
On March 21, 2023, the Ugandan Parliament passed the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, with 387 votes in favor out of a total of 389. Today, 341 MPs have voted in favor of the revised bill after the President approved it. returned to Parliament for review last month; there was only one vote against.
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