Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has called for changes to be made to a proposed anti-homosexuality law to clarify that it is not criminal to merely identify as gay. Museveni’s call for changes comes amid growing international pressure, with many human rights organizations, Western governments, and corporations voicing their concerns about the proposed law.
The proposed law, which was passed by lawmakers in Uganda last month, is potentially one of the harshest anti-LGBTQ laws in the world. It would criminalize a broad range of homosexual activity, including promoting or abetting the lifestyle, and impose stiff penalties, including death for so-called aggravated homosexuality.
Museveni’s Request for Changes
In a letter to the parliament’s speaker, which was read to lawmakers by parliament’s deputy speaker, Thomas Tayebwa, Museveni outlined his reasons for returning the bill and what changes he wanted to be made.
Museveni called for the legislation to distinguish between someone who professes a homosexual lifestyle and someone who actually commits homosexual acts. He emphasized that the proposed law should not criminalize the state of having a deviant proclivity but rather the actions of someone who acts on that deviancy.
Museveni also requested that lawmakers remove provisions that require citizens to report acts of homosexuality, arguing that it would create “constitutional challenges” and be a source of conflict in society. Additionally, he asked lawmakers to include a provision to facilitate rehabilitation of homosexuals who voluntarily renounce the practice.
The country’s deputy attorney general has also advised that a mandatory death penalty be removed from the law.
The Next Steps
Tayebwa referred the bill back to parliament’s legal affairs committee, which will process and report on it before returning it to the full House for fresh debate and passage. Once it is passed again by the full House, it will be returned to the president for approval.
The Impact of the Proposed Law
If passed, the proposed law would further marginalize and discriminate against Uganda’s LGBTQ community, making it more difficult for them to access basic human rights and services. The law could also have a negative impact on Uganda’s economy, as some companies have threatened to withdraw investments if the bill is passed.
The Reaction to the Proposed Law
Human rights defenders, LGBTQ activists, and Western governments have condemned the proposed law, calling it discriminatory and a violation of human rights. The United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada have all threatened to cut aid to Uganda if the bill is passed. Additionally, some corporations, including Coca-Cola and Google, have expressed their opposition to the proposed law.
Museveni’s Reputation on LGBTQ Rights
Museveni’s call for changes to the proposed law is not the first time he has spoken out on LGBTQ rights. In the past, he has made controversial comments about homosexuality, calling it a “deviant behavior” and saying that it is not natural. However, he has also shown a willingness to engage with the international community on the issue.
In 2014, Museveni signed into law a previous version of the anti-homosexuality bill, which included the death penalty for certain homosexual acts. However, the law was eventually struck down by Uganda’s Constitutional Court on a technicality.
Since then, Museveni has appeared to be more cautious on the issue, with some speculating that he is trying to balance the concerns of his conservative base with the demands of the international community.
The International Response
The international response to the proposed law has been swift and forceful. Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have called on Uganda to scrap the bill, saying that it violates international human rights law.
Western governments, including the United States and the United Kingdom, had threatened to cut aid to Uganda if the bill was passed, prompting some Ugandan officials to accuse Western countries of trying to impose their values on African nations.
However, the bill’s passage had also been celebrated by some Ugandans who argued that it was necessary to protect the country’s cultural and religious values.
Museveni’s request for changes to the bill comes as a surprise to some, given his past statements in support of the legislation. In 2014, when he signed an earlier version of the bill into law, he described homosexuality as a “deviant behaviour” and claimed it was learned from foreigners.
Image Credit: Ben Curtis/AP Photo
