Uganda’s parliament on Tuesday passed an anti-gay legislation which proposes tough new penalties for same-sex relationships, following a highly charged and chaotic session.
Legislators amended significant portions of the original draft law, with all but one speaking against the bill.
The anti-gay bill criminalizes even identifying as gay, transgender or non-binary. Penalties include life imprisonment and the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality”
MP Fox Odoi-Oywelowo, who spoke against the bill and who belongs to President Yoweri Museveni’s National Resistance Movement party, told AFP that under the final version of the legislation, offenders would face life imprisonment or even the death penalty for “aggravated” offences.
The legislation enjoys broad public support in Uganda and reaction from civil society has been muted following years of erosion of civic space under Museveni’s increasingly authoritarian rule.
Nevertheless, the 78-year-old leader has consistently signaled he does not view the issue as a priority and would prefer to maintain good relations with Western donors and investors.
Discussion about the bill in parliament was laced with homophobic rhetoric, with lawmakers conflating child sexual abuse with consensual same-sex activity between adults.
In recent months, conspiracy theories accusing shadowy international forces of promoting homosexuality have gained traction on social media in Uganda.
Uganda is notorious for intolerance of homosexuality — which was criminalised under colonial-era laws.
In 2014, Ugandan lawmakers passed a bill that called for life in prison for people caught having gay sex.
The bill will next go to President Museveni, who can choose to use his veto or sign it into law.
