Uganda: The president of Uganda signs a law that criminalizes same-sex acts and is anti-LGBTQ+
By Ahmad Hadizat Omayoza, Mamos Nigeria
Global outcry over Museveni’s assent to draconian new anti-gay law condemned as a “permission slip for hate and dehumanization”
Uganda’s president Yoweri Museveni has signed the world’s harshest anti-LGBTQ+ bill, which allows the death penalty for homosexual acts. The move was immediately condemned by many Ugandans and received widespread international outrage.
Anita Among, the speaker of the Ugandan parliament, issued a statement on social media early on Monday confirming Museveni’s approval of the March law. It forces capital punishment or life detainment for specific same-sex acts, as long as 20 years in jail for “enrollment, advancement and subsidizing” of same-sex “exercises”, and anybody sentenced for “endeavored disturbed homosexuality” faces a 14-year sentence.
The bill, portrayed by the UN high chief for basic liberties, Volker Türk, as “stunning and oppressive”, was passed by everything except two of the 389 MPs on 21 Walk. Museveni had 30 days to veto the bill, return it to parliament for revisions, or sign it into law. In April, he resubmitted it to MPs with a request for reconsideration. If the president had returned the bill a second time, it would still have been signed into law without his approval.
However, on Monday morning, among tweeted: The Anti-Homosexuality Act has received approval from the president. We have listened to our people’s cries as the Ugandan parliament. To safeguard the sacredness of the family, we have passed legislation.
“We have remained steadfast to safeguard our way of life and [the] desires of our kin,” she said, saying thanks to Museveni for his “enduring activity in light of a legitimate concern for Uganda”.
The speaker requested that courts immediately begin enforcing the new laws and stated that MPs had resisted pressure from “bullies and doomsday conspiracy theorists.”
Museveni has received widespread condemnation. An assertion from the UN read: ” We are shocked by the fact that the oppressive and discriminatory anti-gay bill has become law. It is a recipe for persistent violations of LGBT people’s rights and those of the general population. It clashes with the constitution and worldwide arrangements and requires pressing legal audit.”
In a joint proclamation, the tops of the Worldwide Asset to Battle Helps, Tuberculosis and Jungle fever, UNAids and the US President’s Crisis Plan for Helps Help (Pepfar) responded with “profound concern” and expressed progress on handling Helps and HIV was “presently in grave risk”.
“The shame and separation related with the entry of the demonstration has proactively prompted diminished admittance to avoidance as well as treatment administrations. Trust, classification and shame free commitment are fundamental for anybody looking for medical services,” said the proclamation.
“LGBTQI+ individuals in Uganda progressively dread for their wellbeing and security, and individuals are being deterred from looking for essential wellbeing administrations because of a paranoid fear of assault, discipline and further underestimation,” added the explanation, endorsed by Peter Sands, Winnie Byanyima and John Nkengasong.
Uganda’s constitutional court later overturned an anti-gay bill that was passed in 2014 after receiving widespread international criticism for procedural reasons.
“President Museveni’s choice to sign the counter homosexuality act 2023 into regulation is profoundly unsettling,” said Steven Kabuye, a basic freedoms lobbyist in Kampala. ” This act is against fundamental human rights and sets a dangerous precedent for Uganda’s LGBTQ+ community to be targeted for discrimination and persecution.
“As we have seen in the past, these laws have the potential to increase instances of violence, harassment, and marginalization of groups that are already at risk. We genuinely should stand together in fortitude with the LGBTQ+ people group in Uganda and all over the planet and battle against dogmatism and disdain.”
In February alone, 110 LGBTQ+ individuals in Uganda announced episodes including captures, sexual brutality, removals and being effectively stripped openly to the backing bunch Sexual Minorities Uganda (Conceited). The group asserted that transgender individuals were disproportionately affected.
“It is wishful thinking to assume that a fake piece of legislation will completely eradicate the LGBTQI+ population in Uganda!” Sarah Kasande, a human rights activist and lawyer based in Kampala, tweeted.
“Queers are Ugandans, they have a place with Uganda! No inept regulation will at any point change that!”
Edna Ninsiima, a social critic and editor, stated: We should all be concerned that the state has once more signed a permission slip for hate and dehumanization as a result of our nation’s homophobia.
On 17 April, a court in the eastern town of Jinja denied bail to six individuals working for medical services associations who had been captured and accused of “framing part of a criminal sexual organization”. The six were subjected to forced anal examinations and HIV testing by Ugandan police, which was confirmed.
Museveni asserted in Spring that his administration was endeavoring to oppose western endeavors to “standardize” what he called “deviations”.
He said, “The western countries should stop trying to impose their practices on other people and waste the time of humanity.”
Yoweri Museveni is the president of Uganda.
“Of course, we are going to march to court and contest this draconian law in every way possible,” stated Kabuye, referring to the discriminatory legislation. The president of Uganda has called on Africa to “save the world from homosexuality.” Activists intend to petition the court to repeal the legislation.
