Parliament of Uganda on Wednesday March 21st 2023, passed the Anti-homosexuality bill with tough penalties to mitigate the vice in the country.
Among the penalties enacted in the bill supported by majority members of parliament and the public include death as penalty for the offence of aggravated homosexuality.
A person convicted of attempted aggravated homosexuality faces 14 years in prison.
Under the Act, a person found culpable of promoting homosexuality faces 20 years imprisonment. There are also punishments for journalists and editors, film directors, and corporate entities/organisations whose work is interpreted to promote homosexuality.
Also in trouble are landlords who rent their premises out to homosexuals, owners of brothels used by homosexuals and individuals who recruit or groom children into homosexuality.
Legal entities found culpable of any of the offences face Shs1b fine and a decade-long suspension of their activities. A person who contracts, attends, witnesses, presides over or participates in preparation of a same-sex marriage risks 10 years in prison.
Failure to report an attempted or acts of homosexuality is punishable by Shs100m fine or imprisonment for six months, or both.
The legislation was supported by nearly all of the 389 members of parliament who were present in the packed chamber and 55 who logged-in on Zoom to follow the proceedings.
Under the legislation, anyone who engages in “same-sex activity” or who identifies as LGBTQ could face up to 10 years’ imprisonment. The law aims to allow Uganda to fight “threats to the traditional, heterosexual family.”
The passed Bill will become law once the President assents to it.
Drawing on the comments in the house during the bill enactment,
The Woman Member of Parliament, Tororo District Hon Sarah Opendi proposed that anyone cought engaging children into homosexuality should be castrated
“Where somebody has got your child into homosexuality even life imprisonment is not adequate.
Hon. Ecweru Musa Francis the Minister of State for Works and Transport (Works) said Homosexuality is a threat to the human race
“I have gone to some hospitals, I have seen children with ripped anuses, I have talked to doctors and I have been informed that they have been molested by homosexuals”
Hon. Father Charles Onen said here is nothing so sweet and so good for a man more than a woman
“Rt. Hon Speaker when I look at you and the honorable ladies in this house, there is no reason for a man to run after a man for sex.
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