President Museveni signs anti-gay bill into law
The anti-gay bill is now law.
President Yoweri Museveni has assented to the law that provides for a life sentence to those convicted of acts of homosexuality.
Speaking after signing the law, the president said that he has confirmed that homosexuality is not natural and that he could not be stopped by western powers
Asked if he was worried about the possibility of severing relations with the US and the West at large, Museveni has said that Ugandans were are under no obligation whatsoever to adopt unnatural behavior.
The president also warned the western leaders against imposing their cultures on Ugandans.
A section of Members of Parliament has welcomed the decision by the president to assent to the anti-gay act. MPs John Kamara and Deogratius Kiyingi say that this will help preserve Uganda’s culture.
However, for some like Kibanda County MP Sam Otada, the move is a mere political gimmick.
Otada, who was one of the MPs who signed a minority report challenging the bill, maintains that the enactment of the law is a total disregard of the Constitutional provisions on human rights.
Meanwhile, ant-aids activists have condemned the president’s decision.
One of the members of the International Community of women living with HIV in Eastern Africa Margret Happy says the law may only work to worsen the HIV situation.
Happy says homosexuals may begin shying away from establishing their status for fear of being stigmatized.
The human Rights defenders too have had their say about the enactment of the law against homosexuality.
The executive director Foundation for human rights initiative Livingstone Ssewanyana says that does not end the contradiction.
The president revealed his decision this afternoon while addressing the media at State House Entebbe.
He had earlier refused to assent to the bill, citing the need for more research to be undertaken to establish whether homosexuals have a genetic disorder, but this was disproved by scientists.
This drew backlash from several quarters, including rights bodies and US President Barack Obama who issued a strongly worded statement to Uganda and warning of dire consequences.
The law prohibits same sex relationships, promotion or recognition of such relations and prescribes a life sentence for offenders.
