Uganda’s president, Yoweri Museveni, has signed into law one of the world’s most stringent anti-LGBTQ+ legislations, triggering international condemnation. The law aims to punish what President Museveni describes as “disorientated” individuals within the LGBTQ+ community who attempt to “recruit” others. Notably, the law includes the death penalty for LGBTQ+ individuals who engage in acts of violence against children, while also imposing life imprisonment for homosexual acts. Despite the absence of criminalizing LGBTQ+ identities, concerns persist among rights campaigners over the severe ramifications of the new legislation.
The law, passed with the support of over 340 Ugandan MPs and a sole dissenting vote, has intensified the already precarious situation for LGBTQ+ individuals residing in the country. Even before its enactment, they expressed feelings of insecurity. In response to the legislation, US President Joe Biden and other global leaders have threatened to reduce aid to Uganda and impose additional sanctions.
The revised version of the law addresses earlier criticisms raised by some rights campaigners by excluding the criminalization of LGBTQ+ identities. However, homosexuality was already illegal in Uganda, and the new law reinforces this prohibition with a life imprisonment sentence for offenders. Furthermore, certain individuals now face the death penalty for violating the law, including those who transmit terminal illnesses such as HIV/AIDS through same-sex relations and engage in same-sex acts with disabled individuals. The legislation also imposes a 20-year prison term for “promoting” homosexuality, while media organizations and non-governmental bodies promoting LGBTQ+ activities will face substantial fines.
President Museveni defended the law, emphasizing that consultations had taken place to determine the genetic basis of homosexuality, which he ultimately concluded did not exist. He attributed it instead to “psychological disorientation” and warned against recruitment efforts within the LGBTQ+ community. The president stated his unequivocal support for capital punishment in cases where children are violently assaulted, asserting that such actions warrant the ultimate penalty.
