In Uganda, the parliament has passed a revised anti-gay law. The law provides for the death penalty for specific homosexual acts, such as having sex with minors or with people belonging to “vulnerable groups”.
Individuals or groups “who promote gay activity” could face up to 20 years in prison. The law must be signed by President Yoweri Museveni within a month to go into effect.
It is the second version of the anti-LGBT law. LGBT is the English abbreviation for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. The variants LGBTQ, LGBTQI or LGBTQIA are also often used. Each letter represents one’s gender identity or sexual orientation.
No arrest solely on the basis of “suspicion of homosexuality”
The revised version of the law does not criminalize a person’s “perceived sexuality or physical appearance” but their “sexual acts,” MP Robinah Rwakoojo said in a parliamentary statement. Unlike the previous draft law, people could no longer be arrested solely on the basis of “suspicion of homosexuality,” MP Michael Lulume told the German Press Agency. The new version is still very similar to the previous one, according to Lulume.
After strong international criticism, Museveni did not sign the first version of the law, which was passed by the parliament of the East African country on March 21, and instead ordered a revision. The President had said the Attorney General had expressed concerns that the law could be legally vulnerable.
In recent years there have been repeated attempts by various social groups to introduce stricter laws against homosexual people in Uganda. These mostly failed due to a veto by the President or were overturned by the Supreme Court.
