Parliament has passed the much-anticipated Anti-homosexuality Bill that seeks to prohibit same-sex sexual relations.
The Bill which was passed on Tuesday, March 21 2023 had at least 389 members of parliament (representing 73%) attend in person while about four dozen others attended via zoom.
Besides prohibiting same-sex sexual relations, the Bill also seeks to strengthen Uganda’s capacity to deal with domestic and foreign threats to the heterosexual family, safeguard traditional and cultural values and protect youth/children against gay and lesbian practice through imposing penalties on the perpetrators.
“This House will not shy to restrict any right to the extent of the House that recognises, protects and safeguards the sovereignty, morals and culture of this country,” the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, said after Parliament unanimously passed the Bill.
Some members of parliament (MP) vehemently showed support of the Bill arguing that it was unusual for a person to seek sexual pleasure from a person of the same sex.
“Hon. Speaker, when I look at you and the honorable ladies in this house, there is no reason for a man to run after a man for sex,” said Gulu East MP, Charles Onen.
There have been concerns raised by some activists who said that the Bill is a violation of human rights. The Speaker however trashed their concerns saying the cultural norms and aspirations of the people of Uganda will always remain supreme.
“We recognise that the constitution contains non-derogable rights and in this process, the House has striven to recognize those rights…but the norms and aspirations of the people of Uganda will always remain supreme,” she said.
