HOMOSEXUALITY PUNISHABLE TO DEATH PENALTY

IN UGANDA

The new law introduces the concept of “aggravated homosexuality”. In other words, the sexual act between people of the same sex is now considered a crime punishable by death in case of recidivism. Another provision is of great concern to NGOs. According to the text, anyone – individual or organization – “knowingly promotes homosexuality” faces up to 20 years in prison. If it is an organization, it risks a ten-year ban. The President's enactment of the law was first announced on Twitter by Speaker of Parliament Anita Among before being confirmed by Yoweri Museveni's spokesperson.

Outcry

The vote on the bill in Parliament on March 21 sparked an international outcry. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, had denounced a “discriminatory text – probably the worst in the world of its kind”. After the announcement by the Western partners of potential economic consequences if the law were promulgated as it stands, President Yoweri Museveni had asked Ugandan parliamentarians, at the end of April, to reconsider certain provisions. Thus, in the text adopted on Monday, there is no longer any question of criminalizing the mere fact of being homosexual, nor of denouncing the practices of one's neighbor.

"The President of Uganda has today legalized state-sponsored homophobia and transphobia," said Clare Byarugaba, a Ugandan rights activist. “This is a very dark and sad day for the LGBTIQ community, our allies and all of Uganda,” she added.

But above all, on a continent where homosexuality is punishable by imprisonment in some thirty countries, activists fear the spillover effect of Ugandan law. "Why should a country criminalize part of its population based on their sexuality? I think it's very barbaric, it's primitive, and it goes back to the colonial era," said Alex Kofi Donkor, president of LGBT rights in Ghana. Ugandan [...] There have already been three proposed laws criminalizing homosexuality in the DRC.

Same-sex relationships are also considered a crime under colonial-era legislation in neighboring Kenya, whose President William Ruto recently declared homosexuality to be a Western import incompatible with “customs, traditions, Christianity and Islam.” of his nation.

The High Commissioner for Human Rights said it was "dismayed" to see this "draconian and discriminatory" bill come into force, "contrary to the Constitution and international treaties", which opens the way to " systematic violations of the rights of LGBT people”.