By Website Writer; The Parliament of Uganda has passed the “Anti-Homosexuality Bill, 2023.”
The Bill was supported by 73% of all legislators as a record attendance showing 389 lawmakers in attendance 55 of who logged-in on Zoom to follow the proceedings on Tuesday, March 21, 2023.
MPs enacted the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, with a last-minute introduction of death as penalty for the offence of aggravated homosexuality.
Read Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Anita Among statement:
That is what the majority have done today and through them the people of Uganda have spoken as provided for under Articles 1 (1), (2), (3) and 38 (1) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda.
This House will not be shy to restrict any derogable rights to the extent that the House recognizes, protects and safeguards the reigning will, norms and aspirations of the people of Uganda.
We recognize that the Constitution contains non derogable rights and in this process the House has striven to recognize those non derogable rights.
However, the norms and aspirations of the people of Uganda will always remain supreme.
Under the proposed legislation, friends, family and members of the community would have a duty to report individuals in same-sex relationships to the authorities.
Homosexual acts are already illegal in the east African country.
But the bill seeks to go further and criminalize people on the basis of their sexual identity.
The bill, which was first tabled earlier this month, also asserts that individuals or institutions which support or fund LGBT rights’ activities or organizations, or publish, broadcast and distribute pro-gay media material and literature, also face prosecution and imprisonment.
A small group of Ugandan MPs on a committee scrutinising the bill disagreed with its premise. They argue the offences it seeks to criminalise are already covered in the country’s Penal Code Act.
Activists and LGBT people in Uganda have said that anti-homosexuality sentiment in the country is exposing them to physical and online violence, and that the bill may have far-reaching consequences for Ugandans in general.
In 2014, Uganda’s constitutional court nullified a similar act which had toughened laws against the LGBT community.
It included making it illegal to promote and fund LGBT groups and activities, as well as reiterating that homosexual acts should be punished by life imprisonment.
The court ruled that the legislation be revoked because it had been passed by parliament without the required quorum. The law had been widely condemned by Western countries.
Same-sex relations are banned in about 30 African countries, where many people uphold conservative religious and social values.
It will now go to President Museveni who can choose to use his veto – and maintain good relations with Western donors and investors – or sign it into law.
The bill also stipulates that a person who is convicted of grooming or trafficking children for purposes of engaging them in homosexual activities faces life in prison.
After passing the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, Hon. Mukasa F Mbidde says that some funders have withdrawn their cancer research support. These people possess significant financial resources and wield a lot of power.
Sit back and follow us for more updates!
