Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga has asked Uganda’s ambassadors to stand firm and not be intimidated by European governments over the Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2009.
Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga has asked Uganda’s ambassadors to stand firm and not be intimidated by European governments over the anti-gay bill
This is after reports that Ugandan ambassadors in other countries have been intimidated of Uganda’s stand against homosexuality.
The Anti-Homosexuality Bill which was passed on December 20 by the Parliament of Uganda proposes a life sentence for certain homosexual acts.
However, since the bill was passed by the Parliament, human rights activists and gay activists have strongly condemned the bill.
Some Ugandans have also complained that the bill might drive away Uganda donors since the bill infringes on the human rights.
Speaking before Parliament on Thursday, Speaker Kadaga said donors should know that 72 percent of Uganda’s budget is self-funded and as for loans the country can manage to pay them.
She also attacked UK businessman Richard Branson who recently called on companies and tourists to boycott Uganda saying he is a huge investor in Nigeria and yet Nigeria is against homosexuality.
Kadaga instead called on the ambassadors to preserve the sovereignty of this stand and not to give in to the demands of the forces.
Meanwhile, the MPs have requested President Yoweri Museveni to assent the Bill quickly so that it becomes a law.
If approved, the anti-gay bill will toughen the punishment for homosexual acts.
This Act prohibits any form of sexual relations between persons of the same sex; prohibit the promotion.
It is a legislative proposal that would broaden the criminalisation of same-sex relations in Uganda domestically, and further includes provisions for Ugandans who engage in same-sex relations outside of Uganda, asserting that they may be extradicted for punishment back to Uganda, and includes penalties for individuals, companies, media organisations, or non-governmental organisations that know of gay people or support LGBT rights.
Early this week, the Prime Minister of Uganda, Amama Mbabazi said the NRM caucus will first analysis discuss the bill extensively before it is assented into a law by the President.
He said the bill was not only sneaked into the House but also required wider consultations because homosexuality is not a new phenomenon in Uganda.
He said homosexuality is as old as human existence which has been in our society for a long time and believes is an abnormal situation which should not be treated as a crime.
President Museveni who will make the final decision about the bill, last month said as far as his position on the anti-gay bill is concerned, he will first study it and then present it to the NRM caucus to map out the way forward.
“I like thinking before acting. It is not a simple matter to rush into. If the MPs’ bring the bill to me I will first analyze it, take it to the NRM caucus and see how to handle it,” Museveni said.
