Anita Annet Among, the speaker of the Ugandan parliament, confirmed Museveni’s approval of the measure early on Monday in a message posted on social media. It prescribes the death penalty or life in prison for specific same-sex offenses, up to 20 years in jail for “recruiting, promoting, and funding” same-sex “activities,” and a 14-year sentence for those found guilty of “attempted aggravated homosexuality.”
On Monday morning, one tweet read, “The president has signed the Anti-Homosexuality Act. The Ugandan parliament has responded to the screams of the people. To safeguard the sanctity of the family, laws have been passed.
She thanked Museveni for his “steadfast leadership” and stated, “We have stood strong to defend our culture and [the] aspirations of our people.”
Yoweri Museveni, the president of Uganda, has approved the world’s strictest anti-LGBTQ+ law, which permits the execution of homosexual activities.
The action was instantly met with tremendous condemnation from Ugandans as well as the entire world.
The bill, which Volker Türk, the UN’s high commissioner for human rights, called “shocking and discriminatory,” was approved on March 21 by 389 MPs with only two voting against it. Museveni has 30 days to enact the law, veto it, or send it back to the legislature for changes. In April, he sent it back to the MPs and asked them to rethink. If the president had returned the bill a second time, it would have nonetheless became law without his signature.
The speaker said MPs had resisted pressure from “bullies and doomsday conspiracy theorists” and urged the courts to start implementing the new rules.
Museveni has drawn a lot of criticism. “We are appalled that the draconian and discriminatory anti-gay bill is now law,” the UN said in a statement. It is a surefire way to consistently violate the rights of LGBT persons and other members of society. It warrants immediate judicial review since it violates both the constitution and international conventions.
“Reduced access to services for both prevention and treatment has already resulted from the stigma and discrimination associated with the act’s passing. Anyone seeking medical care must engage in activities that are stigma-free, discreet, and built on trust.
The statement, which was signed by Peter Sands, Winnie Byanyima, and John Nkengasong, continued, “LGBTI+ people in Uganda are increasingly concerned for their safety and security, and people are discouraged from accessing essential health services out of fear of being attacked, punished, or further marginalized.”
In March, Museveni asserted that his administration was trying to block Western attempts to “normalize” what he called “deviations.”
He remarked, “Western nations have to cease squandering humankind’s time by attempting to impose their practices on others.
