Kampala, Uganda – (African Boulevard News) – Uganda’s parliament has passed an amended version of an anti-LGBT+ law on Tuesday, which has maintained harsh penalties for same-sex relationships. This move has been met with outrage from many advocacy groups and Western governments.
The new version of the anti-gay bill, which was first introduced in 2013, doubles down on the criminalization of same-sex relations and expands the definition of homosexuality to include acts such as touching and kissing. The bill also includes a provision that would require citizens to report anyone suspected of being LGBT+ to authorities.
The passage of the new anti-gay bill is a significant setback for Uganda’s LGBTQ+ community, which has faced discrimination and persecution for years. Many activists fear that the law will embolden homophobia and lead to increased persecution of LGBTQ+ individuals.
Frank Mugisha, the Executive Director of Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG), spoke out against the bill’s passage, stating that “this law will bring more violence towards LGBT+ people, who already face significant challenges in their daily lives.”
The passage of the bill also drew condemnation from several Western governments, with the United States and the United Kingdom issuing statements criticizing the move.
“The United States is deeply concerned by the passage of this law, which runs contrary to our values of equality and human dignity,” said a spokesperson for the US State Department.
The passage of the new anti-gay bill has also raised concerns about the safety of LGBTQ+ individuals in Uganda. Human rights groups have documented cases of violence, discrimination, and arbitrary arrests of LGBTQ+ Ugandans, and fear that the new law will only exacerbate the situation.
In conclusion, the passage of the new anti-gay bill in Uganda is a significant setback for LGBTQ+ rights in the country. The harsh penalties it maintains for same-sex relationships and the expansive definition of homosexuality in the bill are a clear violation of human rights. This law will embolden homophobia and lead to increased persecution of LGBTQ+ individuals. It is now up to the government and international community to take action to protect the rights of Uganda’s LGBTQ+ community and ensure that they are not subject to discrimination, violence, and persecution.
