The World Briefly
May 30, 2023The Unwanted
Uganda
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Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on Monday signed into law a controversial anti-LGBTQ bill that will allow the death penalty for some same-sex relations, a move that could put the African country in jeopardy with international donors, the Wall Street Journal reported.
The new law was first passed in parliament in March before lawmakers amended it earlier this month following a request by the president.
Homosexuality is already illegal in Uganda under a colonial-era law that punishes sexual activity “against the order of nature” with life imprisonment, the Associated Press added.
The recent legislation will impose new penalties for a number of offenses, including prison sentences of up to five years for touching another person “with the intention of committing the act of homosexuality.”
Individuals that allegedly promote homosexuality could face up to 20 years in prison.
The law also imposes capital punishment for what it calls “aggravated homosexuality,” which is defined as instances of sexual relations involving people infected with HIV, as well as with minors and other categories of vulnerable people.
Still, the legislation does not criminalize people who identify as LGBTQ, one of the key concerns of the bill’s critics, who condemned an earlier draft of the bill as a severe attack on human rights.
Officials praised the new law but Western nations and human rights organizations have described it as “draconian and overly broad.”
LGBTQ rights activists fear that the bill – apart from violating human rights – will make it harder for health organizations to provide information on the prevention and treatment of HIV and other health conditions.
The United Nations and other aid groups warned that it would also lead many in the community to reject testing and treatment for AIDS to avoid arrest.
Observers added that the Ugandan government risks its relations with international donors that annually contribute about $2 billion to support health services, the reconstruction of conflict-hit areas, and a large community of refugees from neighboring countries.
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