Uganda’s parliament approved one of the world’s strongest anti-LGBTQ measures on Tuesday, including severe jail terms and the death penalty, after the president sought minor changes.
The amended proposal retains the majority of the tougher sanctions imposed in March, which were denounced by the US, EU, UN, and huge international corporations.
The government defines “aggravated homosexuality” as homosexual intercourse when HIV-positive and the new law keeps the death penalty in place for such actions.
It imposes a 20-year prison sentence for supporting homosexuality, which opponents fear may outlaw LGBT activism.
President Yoweri Museveni has the option of signing, rejecting, or returning the bill to parliament. Museveni, a staunch opponent of LGBTQ rights, has said he would sign the bill if it included measures to “rehabilitate” homosexuals.
His team would not comment on whether the new proposal satisfied his requirements.
The legislation was altered to allow for LGBTQ identity. It also eliminated the need to declare gay acts unless a child was involved. Adrian Jjuuko, an LGBTQ rights activist, described the first amendment as “useless.”
The police don’t care whether you did it or not. “They’ll arrest you for acting gay and walking gay,” he said.
Uganda’s British-era law forbids same-sex relationships. Members of the LGBTQ community think that the passage of the March law resulted in an increase in arrests, evictions, and mob violence.
Proponents of the measure believe that LGBTQ Ugandans are luring children into homosexuality and that comprehensive legislation is needed to prevent this.
After 30 minutes of debate, parliament speaker Anita Among urged lawmakers to defy international criticism in a voice vote on Tuesday.
“Let’s protect Ugandans, our values, and our virtues,” Among said. “Westerners will not be able to rule Uganda.”
Western nations halted money, visas, and security cooperation when Museveni enacted another anti-LGBTQ bill in 2014. Within months, a domestic court overturned the statute on procedural grounds.
The United States reviewed the law’s effect on its main HIV/AIDS program in Uganda last week.
