Kampala, Uganda – (African Boulevard News) – Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has signed into law a new anti-gay legislation that could impose the death penalty for some homosexual acts. The law was widely supported in the East African country but met with condemnation from rights activists and other nations.
The new law, called the “Anti-Homosexuality Act,” was first introduced in 2009 but was later revoked due to international pressure. However, the Ugandan parliament reintroduced the bill in 2021, and it was passed by the majority of the lawmakers.
Under the new law, anyone convicted of homosexual acts could face life imprisonment and the death penalty in some cases, such as if the offender is HIV-positive, a serial offender, or engages in sexual acts with a minor or a disabled person.
Many Ugandans support the anti-gay law, saying it upholds traditional values and protects children. However, critics have called it a violation of human rights.
“We believe this law is an attempt to further criminalize and stigmatize an already marginalized group of people and will serve to embolden those who seek to persecute them,” said Neela Ghoshal, a senior LGBT rights researcher at Human Rights Watch.
The United States, Europe, and other Western nations have all criticized the law and threatened to cut aid to Uganda, which receives over $1 billion in aid annually. The US Embassy in Kampala called it “a step backward for democracy and human rights in Uganda.”
Many African countries have anti-gay laws, and homosexuality is illegal in at least 32 African nations. In recent years, activists have pushed for the legalization of homosexuality and the repeal of anti-gay laws.
However, Museveni has stood firm in his support of the new law and said it was necessary to protect Ugandan culture and traditions. “We do not seek to persecute anyone,” he said during the signing ceremony, “but we cannot allow a lifestyle that goes against our values to take root in our country.”
The signing of the anti-gay law is likely to spark more international condemnation and backlash, but it remains to be seen how it will affect Uganda’s relationship with its aid donors and the global community.
