Uganda now draws new anti-gay law focusing on promotions

Uganda President Yoweri Museveni on August 2, 2014 explaining that the NRM Caucus will decide the way forward over the anti-homosexual law. Gay rights activists said on November 8, 2014 that Uganda’s ruling party has drawn up new anti-gay legislation and could push it through Parliament before the end of the year. PHOTO | ISAAC KASAMANI |

What you need to know:

  • The move comes nearly a year after Ugandan MPs passed a Bill that would have seen gays face up to life in prison, only for the proposed law to be struck down by the constitutional court on a technicality.
  • President Yoweri Museveni has been under pressure for several months from his own party to ensure that anti-gay legislation is passed.

KAMPALA

Uganda’s ruling party has drawn up new anti-gay legislation and could push it through Parliament before the end of the year, rights activists said Saturday.

The move comes nearly a year after Ugandan MPs passed a Bill that would have seen gays face up to life in prison, only for the proposed law to be struck down by the constitutional court on a technicality.

According to a leaked copy of the new draft Bill, MPs have instead focused on outlawing the “promotion” of homosexuality — something that activists said made it far more repressive and wide-reaching.

“People don’t realise that the ‘promotion’ part of it will affect everybody,” prominent gay rights activist Frank Mugisha told AFP.

“If newspapers report about homosexuality it could be seen as promotion. My Twitter account could be seen as promotion. All human rights groups that include LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) rights defence in their activities could be accused of promotion.”

SEVERE PUNISHMENT

According to the draft, anyone convicted of promoting homosexuality would be liable to seven years in prison.

“We have confirmed that the draft comes from the Cabinet. Their plan is to present it to Parliament as soon as possible, before the end of the year,” Mr Mugisha said.

“They have just twisted the language but it is the same thing. It’s actually worse because the ‘promotion’ part is harsher and it will punish the funding of LGBT and human rights groups,” he added.

The new draft also outlaws “funding for purposes of promoting unnatural sexual practices” and “exhibiting unnatural sexual practices”, and deems consent invalid as a defence.

President Yoweri Museveni has been under pressure for several months from his own party to ensure that anti-gay legislation is passed.