Amnesty International has condemned Uganda for passing the death sentence law for homosexuality.
In a statement Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, Tigere Chagutah Wednesday said the passing of the move violates Ugandan law.
“This ambiguous, vaguely worded law even criminalizes those who ‘promote’ homosexuality or ‘attempt to commit the offense of homosexuality’’ Chagutah said in the statement.
“In reality, this deeply repressive legislation will institutionalize discrimination, hatred, and prejudice against LGBTI people, including those who are perceived to be LGBTI, and block the legitimate work of civil society, public health professionals, and community leaders,”
Instead of criminalizing LGBTQI people, Amnesty International believes Uganda should protect them by enacting laws and policies that adhere to the principles of equality and non-discrimination enshrined not only in Uganda’s Constitution but also in the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
As the sky dusked in Uganda on Tuesday, March 22, so were members of Parliament coming to a consensus about introducing a death penalty for the offense of aggravated homosexuality, minutes after enacting the Anti-Homosexuality Bill.
The Bill proposes tough new penalties for same-sex relationships, which were arrived at after hours of bickering in the House.
Homosexuality is already illegal in the conservative East African nation and it was not immediately clear what new penalties had been agreed upon.
The bill will next go to President Museveni, who can choose to use his veto or sign it into law.
