It conflicts with the constitution and international treaties and requires urgent judicial review.”Īshwanee Budoo-Scholtz, Africa deputy director for Human Rights Watch, said: “Museveni’s signing of the anti-homosexuality bill is a serious blow to the right to freedom of expression and association in Uganda, where instead of being restricted they ought to be strengthened. It is a recipe for systematic violations of the rights of LGBT people and the wider population. A statement from the UN read: “We are appalled that the draconian and discriminatory anti-gay bill is now law. There has been strong condemnation of Museveni. “LGBTQI+ people in Uganda increasingly fear for their safety and security, and people are being discouraged from seeking vital health services for fear of attack, punishment and further marginalisation,” added the statement, signed by Peter Sands, Winnie Byanyima and John Nkengasong. Trust, confidentiality and stigma-free engagement are essential for anyone seeking health care,” said the statement. “The stigma and discrimination associated with the passage of the act has already led to reduced access to prevention as well as treatment services. In a joint statement, the heads of the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria, UNAids and the US President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar) reacted with “deep concern” and said progress on tackling Aids and HIV was “now in grave jeopardy”. That bullying we shall not give you money. He said: “The president has shown great courage to defy bullying of the Americans and Europeans. Martin Ssempa, one of the main backers of the bill, presented it as a victory against the US and Europe and suggested Uganda needed to push back against groups working to tackle HIV. The speaker said MPs had withstood pressure from “bullies and doomsday conspiracy theorists” and called for courts to begin enforcing the new laws. “We have stood strong to defend our culture and aspirations of our people,” she said, thanking Museveni for his “steadfast action in the interest of Uganda”.
She urged the courts to begin enforcing the law immediately. Uganda’s speaker, Anita Annet Among, addresses MPs as the anti-LGBTQ+ bill was passed. We have legislated to protect the sanctity of family. As the parliament of Uganda, we have answered the cries of our people. The bill would have still become law without the president’s assent if he returned it a second time.Īmong tweeted on Monday morning: “The president … has assented to the Anti-Homosexuality Act. He sent it back to MPs in April, with a request for reconsideration. Museveni had 30 days to either sign the legislation into law, return it to parliament for revisions or veto it. It imposes the death penalty or life imprisonment for certain same-sex acts, up to 20 years in prison for “recruitment, promotion and funding” of same-sex “activities”, and anyone convicted of “attempted aggravated homosexuality” faces a 14-year sentence.ĭescribed by the UN high commissioner for human rights, Volker Türk, as “shocking and discriminatory”, the bill was passed by all but two of 389 MPs on 21 March. He said Washington was considering “sanctions and restriction of entry into the United States against anyone involved in serious human rights abuses” – a suggestion that Ugandan officials may face repercussions.Įarly on Monday, the speaker of the Ugandan parliament, Anita Annet Among, released a statement on social media confirming Museveni had assented to the law first passed by MPs in March. US President Joe Biden decried the act as “shameful” and “tragic violation of universal human rights”.
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