President Yoweri Museveni has signed the controversial Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2023 into law paving the way for tough penalties for those promoting the act and recruiting others into the practice.
Now called the Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023, the law prescribes a death penalty for any one engaging in aggravated homosexuality.
The Bill that was passed by Parliament on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 was introduced as a Private Member’s Bill was by Bugiri Municipality Member of Parliament, Asuman Basalirwa March 9, 2023.
“The provisions embedded in the Bill seek to protect the traditional family by prohibiting any form of sexual relations between persons of the same sex and promotion of such acts,” Parliament said in a statement.
The Bill also seeks to address the gaps of other laws in Uganda including the Penal Code Act, Cap 120, as well as supplement provisions of the Constitution by criminalizing same sex acts.
While considering the Bill, legislators agreed to a penalty of shs1 billion imposed on a legal entity convicted of promoting homosexuality.
The Bill proposes a life sentence in prison for an individual convicted of committing the offence of homosexuality, whereas attempt to perform the act would attract a seven year prison term.
The Bill provides for a three year imprisonment for a child convicted of the act of homosexuality which is in line with section 94(1) (g) of the Children Act, Cap 120.
Speaker Anita Among thanked the President for signing the Bill into law.
“As the Parliament of Uganda, we have answered the cries of our people. We have legislated to protect the sanctity of family as per Article 31 of the Constitution of Uganda. We have stood strong to defend our culture and aspirations of our people as per objectives 19 & 24 of national objectives and directive principles of state policy,” Among said.
“I thank His Excellency, the president, for his steadfast action in the interest of Uganda,” she added.
The Speaker also thanked the Members of Parliament for withstanding pressure from supporters of homosexuality.
“With a lot of humility, I thank my colleagues the Members of Parliament for withstanding all the pressure from bullies and doomsday conspiracy theorists in the interest of our country,” Among said.
“By their action, we have lived by our motto: For God and our Country. On behalf of the Parliament of Uganda, I thank the people of Uganda for the prayers and encouragement while we executed our mandate in line with Articles 1 and 79 of the Constitution. We shall always stand for and promote the interest of the people of Uganda.”
“I now encourage the duty bearers under the law to execute the mandate bestowed upon them in the Anti-Homosexuality Act. The people of Uganda have spoken, and it is your duty to now enforce the law in a fair, steadfast, and firm manner. For God and my Country,” Among said.
The Chairperson of the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, Robina Rwakoojo, said that whereas homosexuality already exists in Uganda’s law books under the Penal Code, there is need to redefine the law and place emphasis on emerging matters that are not contained in the Penal Code Act.
“These acts include promotion of homosexuality and the recruitment of children into homosexuality which have been blamed for the rising incidents of homosexuality in Uganda,” Rwakoojo said.
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