The new move constitutes a further crackdown on LGBTQ+ people.
Uganda’s parliament on Tuesday passed a controversial bill criminalizing identifying as LGBTQ and threatening them with 10 years in prison. BBC report. Violations of the law also result in severe penalties including the death penalty for so-called severe homosexuality and life in prison for homosexual sex.
More than 30 African countries, including Uganda, have banned same-sex relations and the new move constitutes a further crackdown on LGBTQ+ people. In addition to same-sex sex, the law prohibits promoting and abetting homosexuality and conspiring to engage in homosexuality.
Friends, family and community members will now have a duty to report individuals with same-sex relationships to the authorities. Individuals or organizations that support or sponsor LGBT rights organizations or activities can also be prosecuted and imprisoned.
Opposition lawmaker Asuman Basalirwa introduced the Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2023 to Parliament, saying the bill was meant to “protect our church culture; Ugandans’ traditional, religious and legal family values from practices that are likely to promote promiscuous sex in this country.”
“The goal of the bill is to establish a comprehensive and uplifting law that protects our traditional family values, our diverse cultures, our beliefs, by banning all forms of sexual relations between people of the same sex and encourage or recognize sexual relations between people of the same sex. same sex,” said Mr. Basalirwa.
It was supported by nearly all of the 389 legislators present. The bill will now go to President Yoweri Museveni, who can choose to use his veto or sign it into law.
Meanwhile, human rights campaigners have criticized the new move, describing it as a “hate law”.
”Today marks a tragic day in Uganda’s history. @Parliament_Ug passed legislation that promotes hate and seeks to strip LGBTIQ individuals of basic rights!”, Sarah Kasande, a lawyer and human rights activist in Kampala, tweeted.
Today marks a tragic day in Uganda’s history. @Parliament_Ug passed legislation that promotes hatred and seeks to strip LGBTIQ individuals of basic rights! The provisions of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill are barbaric, discriminatory and unconstitutional!
– Sarah Kasande (@skasande2) March 21, 2023
Gay activist Eric Ndawula tweeted, ”Today’s events in parliament are not only immoral but a complete attack on humanity. It’s scary how the judgment of our MPs is clouded by hate and homophobia. Who benefits from this draconian law?
Today’s events in Parliament are not only immoral but a complete attack on humanity. It’s scary how the judgment of our MPs is clouded by hate and homophobia. Who benefits from this draconian law? That’s a question they’ll probably never answer. #AntiHomosexualityBill2023 harsh pic.twitter.com/CvQvNK3Oiz
– Eric Ndawula🏳️🌈 (@EricNdawulaGrif) March 21, 2023
According to Human Rights Watch, the bill, if signed into law, ”would violate many fundamental rights, including freedom of expression and association, privacy, equality and non-discrimination. ”.
