In a move that has drawn widespread condemnation, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has given his approval to one of the world’s strictest anti-LGBTQ laws. Despite strong objections from Western governments, businesses, and human rights activists, the president’s decision solidifies a harsh stance against the LGBTQ community in the country.
While same-sex relations were already illegal in Uganda, along with more than 30 other African nations, this new law takes further steps to target and persecute lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals. One of the most severe provisions includes the death penalty for what is termed as “aggravated homosexuality,” encompassing situations where individuals engage in gay sex while being HIV-positive. Additionally, promoting homosexuality can now lead to a lengthy 20-year prison sentence.
The announcement of Museveni’s signing of the bill was initially made by parliament speaker Anita Among through a tweet. This move demonstrates Museveni’s unwavering opposition to LGBTQ rights. Previously, he had sent the original bill, which was passed by parliament in March, back to lawmakers, urging them to make some adjustments. However, on May 2, parliament approved a revised version that made only minor amendments, preserving the majority of the original legislation.
The revised bill clarifies that simply identifying as LGBTQ is not considered a crime and modifies a provision that previously required individuals to report homosexual activity, now mandating reporting only in cases involving children. Despite these modifications, the United States government expressed strong disapproval of the impending law, stating last month that it was assessing the impact on its activities in Uganda under its prominent HIV/AIDS program. International companies, including Google (GOOGL.O), have also criticized the legislation, warning of its detrimental effects on their operations in Uganda and the country’s overall economy.
