The president of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, imposed one of the harshest anti-LGBTQ+ laws on Monday. The new law makes same-sex relations illegal in the country and punishable to life in prison.
Homosexuality or same-sex relations were already illegal in Uganda but the new law targets the LGBTQ+ community even more.
The law also imposes the death penalty for “Aggravated homosexuality”. This includes same-sex intercourse when HIV-positive and a 20-year prison sentence for “promoting and abetting” homosexuality.
Gay people already face legal discrimination and mob violence in the country and the new law will only further exacerbate this.
Passage of the bill earlier this year sparked fear amongst Uganda’s LGBTQ community. Many of them closed down social media accounts and fled their homes for safe houses. Others are looking to leave Uganda entirely. Activists have however vowed to challenge the law in court.
Those in favour of the new law say a broader range of LGBTQ activities needs to be curbed and punished. This stems from claims that these “activities” threaten traditional values. Uganda is one of 32 African countries that criminalizes homosexuality.
READ MORE: Why are Kenya and Uganda cracking down on LGBTQ rights?
President Yoweri Museveni recently suggested that he was in support of the movement and accused Western nations of “trying to impose their practices on other people”.
Countries reacting to the new anti-gay law
Previously, when Museveni signed a less restrictive anti-LGBTQ law, Western governments suspended some aid, imposed visa restrictions, and cut back on security cooperation.
This change could result in Uganda – which receives billions of dollars in foreign aid each year – facing sanctions over the legislation.
The United States government said it was assessing the implications the new law will have on activities in Uganda under its flagship HIV/AIDS programme.
Dozens of international corporations including the European Union and United Nations and also condemned the legislation.
Last week South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile said the SA government condemns the anti-gay law, but it can’t impose its views on other countries.
The bill was passed late on Monday inside a packed parliamentary chamber and was supported by nearly all the 389 representatives in the Ugandan capital Kampala.
