Uganda’s president rejects new hardline anti-gay bill as not tough enough
Yoweri Muzeveni, the president of Uganda, refused to sign a controversial anti LGBT+ bill, which imposes a death penalty for homosexuality. He requested that it be sent back to parliament so that it can be made even more harsh.
The decision was made on Thursday, following a meeting of the president with MPs from the ruling party who decided to send the hardline legislation back to the National Assembly “with suggestions for its improvement”.
Denis Hamson Obua, the chief whip of the Democratic Party, said that the president has agreed to sign into law the bill in principle.
He told a press conference that followed the meeting, “Before we do that, we agree that the bill be returned to facilitate the strengthening and reinforcement of certain provisions in accordance with our best practices.”
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Obua reported that Museveni will meet with the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of parliament on Tuesday to draft amendments.
Museveni will have 30 days to sign into law the notorious legislation, send it back to parliament for revisions or veto and notify the Speaker of Parliament. The law can pass without Museveni’s consent if the president returns it twice to parliament.
In its current form, the bill imposes life and capital sentences for homosexuality. It also imposes up to 14-year prison sentences for “attempted” homophobia, and up to 20-year jail terms for “recruitment and promotion” of “activities” that are same-sex.
A previous version of the bill was widely criticized internationally and later invalidated by Uganda’s Constitutional Court on procedural grounds. In Uganda, an east African nation dominated by conservative Christians, homosexuality is punishable with life in prison.
On 21 March, 389 MPs passed the bill almost unanimously, which Volker Turk, UN Human Rights chief, described last month as “shocking” and “discriminatory”.
Museveni claimed that his government was resisting western attempts to “normalise”. He called these “deviations”. He said that the west should not waste time by trying to impose its practices on others.
A group of scientists and academics, from Africa and around the world, called on Museveni this week to veto Bill 109, stating that “homosexuality” is a natural and normal variation of sexuality. The authors of the letter responded to Museveni’s request for a medical and scientific opinion on homosexuality by writing: “The science is crystal clear on this topic.”
Prof Glenda Grey, President of the South African Medical Research Council said: “Being homosexual is natural and normal wherever it occurs in the world. Sexual orientation has no boundaries. “Despite what is said, homosexuality does not come from the West.
She said that it is state-sponsored homophobia, not homosexuality, which is un-African.
Human rights activists called for the bill to be withdrawn entirely.
Clare Byarugaba said, in a tweet, that the LGBTIQ community in Kampala needed this reprieve.
If you’ve never been the victim of a state-sanctioned hatred bill, which is a life or death issue every morning when you wake up, cherish your freedom. “The struggle continues,” wrote she.
But those who support the bill have also welcomed this move. Pastor Martin Ssempa is one of the principal supporters of the bill. He said that it was a positive step to include an amnesty in the law for those who give up sodomy on their own. “And include in the law a road map for rehabilitation, including rehabilitation centers.” He said that both amendments were humane and legitimate.
Amnesty International’s secretary general, Agnes Callamard said that the “deeply oppressive” bill should not be passed. She said that instead of persecuting LGBTI individuals, Ugandan authorities could protect their rights through aligning their laws to international human rights standards and law.
“Criminalising consenting same-sex behavior violates many human rights including the right to dignity, equality in front of the law and equal protection under the law.”
A court in Jinja, an eastern town, denied bail on 17 April to six young healthcare educators who were charged with “participating in a criminal sexual ring”. Uganda Police confirmed that they conducted anal examinations on six individuals, and tested them HIV positive.
In February, more than 110 LGBTQ+ Ugandans reported to Sexual Minorities Uganda, an advocacy group, incidents such as arrests, sexual assault, evictions, and public undressing. The group said that transgender people are disproportionately affected.
