Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni, Ugandan Parliament has passed a controversial law condemned by Western countries, which includes long prison sentences for homosexuality and the death penalty for certain crimes, Anita Annet Between, Speaker of the Ugandan Parliament, reported today.
Museveni “has fulfilled his constitutional duty (…). Anti-Homosexuality Law“Among said on his Twitter account about one of the strictest laws in the world against the LGBTIQ community (lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender people, intersex people and queers).
“As the Ugandan Parliament, We answered the cry of our people. We enacted a law to protect the sanctity of the family in accordance with Article 31 of the Ugandan Constitution. “We stood tall to defend our culture and the aspirations of our people,” he said.
Museveni was thanked for his “decisive action in Uganda’s interests” and among the parliamentarians who approved the law. Resist all pressure from bullies and doomsday conspiracy theorists For the interests of our country.”
“The Ugandan people have spoken and now it is their duty to enforce the law. fair, immutable and firm”he finished.
Museveni published the new draft law, which was approved in the 2nd of the Parliament and is still in progress. long prison sentences and the death penalty For some crimes, despite the president’s desire to soften the original text, following strong Western condemnation.
The head of state refused to approve the controversial project, which was approved by the Parliament on March 21, and asked for changes to the project. We condemn the actions of LGBTIQs, not their identity.
Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee It supported the President’s request and repealed the items implying identity.
According to the chairman of the commission, Robina Rwakoojo This amendment persisted because “the purpose of the bill was to criminalize sexual acts committed by persons of the same sex and not to punish a person based on their perceived sexuality or physical appearance.”
But crime”aggravated homosexuality“(broad term used to refer to the act of having close relationships with minors or other vulnerable groups) continues to be punishable by the death penalty.
The previous version also required Ugandans to report the situation to the Police. any suspicious homosexual activity otherwise they could be sentenced to six months in prison.
Lawmakers agreed to change this provision after Museveni warned last month that it could lead to provocations. “conflicts in society”.
The reporting requirement is now only Alleged sexual offenses against children and vulnerable personssentence of up to five years in prison.
According to the newly enacted law, any person “intentionally promoting homosexuality” He could be imprisoned for up to twenty years, with a provision not changed from the original bill.
The legislative text has come under harsh criticism. United Nations, by human rights organizations as well as the European Union and the United States.
“It is disgusting that the parliament has withdrawn the anti-gay bill passed by the Ugandan Parliament in March. This humiliating law clearly violates the human rights of LGBTI individuals in Uganda.” condemned 2 Amnesty International (AI) the other day.
Museveni passed a law in 2014 calling for life sentences. “repeating homosexuals”, however, Uganda’s Constitutional Court annulled the constitution, arguing that there was no quorum in the parliamentary vote.
Currently, judge in Uganda 1950 law -The country gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1962 -implies close relationships between people of the same sex to life imprisonment, although this is not usually enforced.