By: Staff Reporters
Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has recently signed the anti-homosexuality bill into law, which has sparked a wave of controversy and backlash from various groups.
This new law is one of the most severe anti-gay bills in the world, a legislation mandating life imprisonment for individuals who engage in same-sex relations and even includes the death penalty in certain cases.
Under this law, children who identify as queer will be subject to imprisonment for up to three years.
According to Attorney-General Kiryowa Kiwanuka, who serves as the chief legal adviser to the government, the new law mandates a sentence for individuals convicted of aggravated homosexuality.
Speaker of Parliament Anita Among confirmed that the president executed his constitutional mandate as prescribed by Article 91 (3) (a) of the Ugandan Constitution.
“As the Parliament of Uganda, we have responded to the concerns of our people by enacting legislation to protect the sanctity of family, as per Article 31 of the Constitution of Uganda. We have also remained steadfast in our commitment to defend our culture and the aspirations of our people, as per objectives 19 & 24 of national objectives and directive principles of state policy,” Ms Among said.
LGBTQI+ activists in Uganda are calling for a repeal of the Act, citing its draconian nature and labeling it as the world’s harshest and the United States has also responded by revoking the visa of Uganda speaker Ms Among, with President Joe Biden expressing disappointment.
The signing of this bill has sparked a heated debate, with various groups expressing their opinions on the matter but while some view it as a necessary step to protect the sanctity of family and culture, others see it as a violation of human rights and an attack on the LGBTQI+ community.
As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen what the future holds for Uganda and its people. By Ollus Ndomu and Jessy Maduma
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