Ugandan Parliament Passes One of the World's Toughest Anti-LGBTQ+ Laws, Including Death Penalty for Some Offences.
On Tuesday, the Ugandan Parliament passed stringent laws targeting LGBTQ+ people, with some offences now carrying the death penalty, and up to 20 years' imprisonment for those identifying as LGBTQ+. Same-sex relations were already illegal and could lead to life imprisonment, and the new legislation criminalises an array of activities, including promoting and abetting homosexuality and conspiring to engage in homosexuality. The legislation's scope is broad, and the term aggravated homosexuality is used to describe sex acts committed without consent or under duress, against children or people with mental or physical disabilities, involving incest, or committed by a serial offender.
The amendment, presented by the chairperson for legal and parliamentary affairs Robina Rwakoojo, states that a person who commits the offense of aggravated homosexuality and is liable, on conviction to suffer death. Opposition lawmaker Asuman Basalirwa introduced the Anti Homosexuality Bill 2023 to Parliament, saying it aims to protect our church culture; the legal, religious and traditional family values of Ugandans from the acts that are likely to promote sexual promiscuity in this country. The bill is expected to eventually go to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni for approval. The law represents a further crackdown on LGBTQ+ people in Uganda, where same-sex relations were already heavily stigmatised and persecuted.