On Tuesday, the Ugandan Parliament passed a new law that criminalizes the self-identification of LGBTQ individuals. This move has been heavily criticized by human rights activists, who warn that the law gives authorities broad powers to target gay Ugandans, who already face significant legal discrimination and mob violence.
More than 30 African countries, including Uganda, have already banned same-sex relations, but this new law appears to be the first to outlaw the mere self-identification as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ). The legislation, which was approved by a wide margin, also bans promoting and abetting homosexuality, as well as conspiracy to engage in homosexual acts.
The supporters of the new law argue that it is necessary to protect traditional values in the conservative and religious East African nation. Lawmakers, such as David Bahati, have expressed their support for the bill, stating that “our creator God is happy with what is happening… I support the bill to protect the future of our children.” He also emphasized the need to preserve the sovereignty of Uganda, declaring that “nobody should blackmail us, nobody should intimidate us.”
However, human rights groups and LGBTQ activists have denounced the law as draconian, arguing that it effectively criminalizes the existence of LGBTQ individuals in Uganda. Frank Mugisha, a prominent Ugandan LGBTQ activist, stated that “this law is very extreme and draconian… it not only criminalizes being an LGBTQ person, but also they are trying to erase the entire existence of any LGBTQ Ugandan.”
Under the new law, violations are met with severe penalties, including life imprisonment for consensual homosexual acts and the death penalty for so-called aggravated homosexuality. Aggravated homosexuality is defined as homosexual activity with a person under the age of 18, homosexual activity by a person living with HIV, or repeat offenders, among other categories specified in the law.
The legislation will now be sent to President Yoweri Museveni for his signature to become law. While he has not commented on the current proposal, he has a long history of opposing LGBTQ rights and signed an anti-LGBTQ law in 2013, which Western countries condemned. The law was later struck down by a domestic court on procedural grounds.
Recent weeks have seen an increase in government crackdowns on LGBTQ individuals in Uganda. Religious leaders and politicians have alleged that schools have been recruiting students into homosexuality, leading to an increase in persecution. This month, a secondary school teacher in the eastern district of Jinja was arrested over accusations of “grooming young girls into unnatural sex practices.” She has been charged with gross indecency and is currently in prison awaiting trial.
On Monday, the police reported that they had arrested six individuals accused of running a network that was “actively involved in the grooming of young boys into acts of sodomy.”
The passing of the law has been met with international condemnation, with several governments and human rights groups calling on Uganda to reconsider. The US embassy in Uganda tweeted that it was “deeply concerned” about the law, while Amnesty International declared it a “dark day for human rights.”
In addition to the human rights implications, the new law could also have significant economic consequences for Uganda. The country relies heavily on foreign aid, and the passing of the law could lead to cuts in aid from Western countries that support LGBTQ rights.
Image Credit: Isaac Kasamani/AFP
