The World Briefly

April 24, 2023

Try, Try Again

Uganda

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Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni refused to sign into law a new bill that would impose harsh penalties including death against homosexuals, and requested that lawmakers revise the controversial draft legislation, Al Jazeera reported.

Museveni ordered the amendments following a meeting with legislators of his ruling party, a majority of whom support the bill that parliament approved last month.

While he had no objections over the harsh punishments stipulated in the bill, Museveni wanted lawmakers to look further into “the issue of rehabilitation of the persons who have in the past been engaged in homosexuality but would like to live normal lives again.”

Homosexuality is already illegal in Uganda under a colonial-era law criminalizing sexual acts “against the order of nature.” The new bill would have imposed more severe punishments, such as life imprisonment for homosexuality and the death penalty for the offense of “aggravated homosexuality.”

Aggravated homosexuality is described as sexual encounters involving HIV-infected people, minors, and other vulnerable people.

Those who advocate or support the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals face prison sentences of up to 20 years.

The contentious legislation prompted international condemnation from human rights groups and Western nations, with the United States threatening economic consequences if the bill became law.

Museveni has been under pressure to veto the bill, but anti-gay sentiment in Uganda has grown in recent weeks amid reports alleging sodomy in boarding schools.

This story originally appeared in the April 24, 2023 newsletter, The Bombs of Ambition.