NewStats: 3,263,102 , 8,179,096 topics. Date: Wednesday, 04 June 2025 at 05:07 PM q1i14

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni dismissed widespread criticism of the anti-gay measure, which calls for life imprisonment for anyone convicted of homosexuality.

The president of Uganda signed a punitive anti-gay bill on Monday that includes the death penalty, enshrining into law an intensifying crackdown against L.G.B.T.Q. people in the conservative East African nation and dismissing widespread calls not to impose one of the world’s most restrictive anti-gay measures.

The law, which was introduced in Parliament in March, calls for life imprisonment for anyone who engages in gay sex. Anyone who tries to have same-sex relations could be liable for up to a decade in prison.

The law also decrees the death penalty for anyone convicted of “aggravated homosexuality,” a term defined as acts of same-sex relations with children or disabled people, those carried out under threat or while someone is unconscious. The offense of “attempted aggravated homosexuality” carries a sentence of up to 14 years.

The legislation is a major blow to efforts by the United Nations, Western governments and civil society groups that had implored the president, Yoweri Museveni, not to sign it.

Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, has said the bill would “damage Uganda’s international reputation.”

But Mr. Museveni was unmoved, saying in a video released by the state broadcaster in April that the country had “rejected the pressure from the imperials,” a reference to Western nations.

The law, activists said, tramples the rights of L.G.B.T.Q. people and leaves them vulnerable to discrimination and violence. Homosexuality is already illegal in Uganda, but the new law calls for far more stringent punishment and broadens the list of offenses.

The law’s age has stoked fear among L.G.B.T.Q. people, many of whom have began fleeing Uganda. Gay rights groups say hundreds of gay people — facing rejection from their families, discrimination at work or mob justice in the streets — have reached out to them in recent weeks seeking help.

“There’s fear that this law will embolden many Ugandans to take the law into their hands,” said Frank Mugisha, the most prominent openly gay rights activist in Uganda. “This law will put so many people at risk. And that creates anxiety and fear.”

The legislation also represents a major victory for many of the country’s religious groups, whose had organized street protests urging lawmakers to protect children and what they portrayed as the sanctity of the traditional African family.

The Rev. Stephen Samuel Kaziimba, the archbishop of the Church of Uganda, said in February that gay groups were “recruiting our children into homosexuality.”

The sweeping anti-gay measure comes as a growing number of African countries — including Kenya and Ghana — consider ing similar or even stricter legislation.

The Ugandan legislation, known officially as the Anti-Homosexuality Act, was first ed by Parliament in March. But instead of g it immediately, Mr. Museveni sent it back for amendments, seeking to make clear a distinction between being gay and engaging in gay sex.

Lawmakers did add language making clear that anyone suspected of being a homosexual would not be punished unless they engaged in same-sex relations, before adopting the bill again.

The rest of the law remained the same, including mandating a prison term of up to 20 years for anyone who promotes homosexuality, a vague provision that activists fear could be used to target agencies ing L.G.B.T.Q. people, including those providing lifesaving AIDS treatment.

Anyone younger than 18 convicted of having gay sex faces up to three years in prison. The law, which also encourages the public to report any suspected acts of homosexuality, contains ambiguous language that makes it difficult to interpret.

Anyone who allows premises to be used for same-sex relations could face up to seven years in prison and a person convicted of homosexuality could be sent for “rehabilitation.”

A team of lawyers and activists is drafting a lawsuit, whose details have not been divulged, challenging the law in Uganda’s Constitutional Court.

The legislation follows a years long campaign in Uganda to criminalize L.G.B.T.Q. people and those who them. Politicians first drew up a similar measure in 2009, but when it was signed into law in 2014, the court struck it down on procedural grounds.

But over the past few years, political leaders, along with domestic and international religious organizations, began ramping up anti-gay campaigns and warning about what they call a threat to family values.

Some analysts said the law was meant to scapegoat gay people and distract the public from mounting domestic challenges, including rising unemployment and skyrocketing food prices. Mr. Museveni, who has been in power for almost four decades, has also faced increased scrutiny for his crackdown on the opposition and human rights activists.

“Homosexuality remains highly politicized in Uganda,” said Helen Epstein, the author of a book exploring the president’s long hold on power. “It is very much a product of Museveni’s malevolent political genius.”

SOURCE

His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Uganda, General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, has executed his constitutional mandate as prescribed by Article 91 (3) (a) of the Constitution. He has assented to the Anti-Homosexuality Act.

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 Constitutionof Uganda. We have stood strong to defend our culture and aspirations of our people as per objectives 19 & 24 of natinal objectives and directiveprinciples of state policy.

I thank His Excellency, the president, for his steadfast action in the interest of Uganda. With a lot of humility, I thank my colleagues the of Parliament for withstanding all the pressure from bullies and doomsday conspiracy theorists in the interest of our country. 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.

Anita Annet Among, Speaker, Parliament of Uganda

Authorities have acknowledged that Uganda, which receives billions of dollars in foreign aid each year, could face sanctions over the legislation.

When Museveni signed a less restrictive anti-LGBTQ law in 2014, Western governments suspended some aid, imposed visa restrictions and curtailed security cooperation.

That law was nullified within months by a domestic court on procedural grounds.

UN Human Rights amongst the first to criticise the bill

#Uganda: We are appalled that the draconian and discriminatory anti-gay bill is now law. It is a recipe for systematic violations of the rights of LGBT people & the wider population. It conflicts with the Constitution and international treaties and requires urgent judicial review.

UN Human Rights

What they need more is help, and not imprisonment (except in the case of sexual abuse) or death sentence because (the feeling of) homosexuality is a mental disorder.
They can't help the way they feel.

Although, to feel is one thing, and to act out your (inappropriate) feeling is another.
You mustn't give in to every feelings.

Another issue is, would they be willing to accept help?

Right way to go. To hell with all those gay stuff of a tin

Very good development. I hope Tinubu signs same in Nigeria.

Had it been the parents of those Homosexuals were Homosexuals too,would they be existing today?
Homosexuality is the end of a generation.

Just imagine, stupid laws for what they choose not to understand. Imagine making a law for who two grown adult can love. Barbaric I would say.

I am a very liberal man who believes the earth is big enough to contain every body and their sexual preferences, although I still find it funny how people find their same gender sexually attractive.

The punishment is little above tough and brutal for LGBTQ anyways. I think therapeutic sessions will help, because we need talk to the LGBTQ bandwagons that life will go extinct if men married men and women married women. Peace ❤

Africans are very easy to distract and deceive. Watch as poor Ugandans that are victims of this despot's misrule celebrate this nonsense law that adds no value to their lives

fergie001:


SOURCE

asylum for Ugandans

Nice one

Omo every time I hear this I try to understand the basics behind a guy fucking is fellow guy, like how does there dick even get up and the fact that it is even irritating just thinking about it. With all the fine girls outside how does a guy still end up being gay.

fergie001:


Anita Annet Among, Speaker, Parliament of Uganda

Comfarm

Ok

Great news

Good development


God bless Uganda

What will Gen Z do now?

Most people would say what concerns what two consenting adults do in their bedroom

My issue is their imposition of their life styles on other people

Forcing one to accept them or get punished for it

It is a good thing that most African countries are not buying this yeye western ideology

Good job.

pongwa:
asylum for Ugandans

Meaning lots of Guys and Lesbians would seek Asylum Abroad

Yes o, how can a sane man abandon a succulent female nyash for a hairy and hardened Male nyash?...

.

Chai..

...that Eve may ONLY give Adam the Apple.

Nice one Museveni, there's plenty toto and dick out there, I don't know why some demented folks prefer same sex. It's sickness

good move , our moral heritage most be preserve.

More strength to you Mr president 💪



President BAT should also put it into law.

Good
This is not UK or US where anything is permissible

I guess the issue of gay and lesbian is mental disorder, of course there are times you will see your fellow gender and you'll be wowed by their beauty or physical appearance or thinking of having sexual feelings with them and carrying it out, all boils down to the brain .


The brain needs to be put in check , so they need mental evolution on how to overcome such feelings.

Africa

Lol