the promulgation of an “anti-homosexuality” law provokes indignation

The announcement provoked a wave of denunciation and concern, from local NGOs to the White House. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni signed into law an “anti-homosexuality” law on Monday (May 29th), providing for heavy penalties for same-sex relations and the “promotion” of homosexuality.

The text had been amended at the margin by the parliamentarians, at the request of the president. The elected officials had clarified that being homosexual was not a crime, but that sexual relations between people of the same sex were. Parliamentarians maintained a provision making “aggravated homosexuality” a capital offence, meaning that repeat offenders could be sentenced to death. In Uganda, however, the death penalty has not been applied for years.

A provision on the “promotion” of homosexuality is of particular concern to NGOs. According to the text, anyone “knowingly promotes homosexuality” faces up to 20 years in prison. If it is an organization, it risks a 10-year ban. An NGO has announced that it has taken the law to the High Court of Uganda “blatantly unconstitutional”. The criminalization of activities between consenting adult homosexuals “goes against key provisions of the Constitution, including the right to equality and non-discrimination”said Adrian Jjuuko, executive director of the Human Rights Awareness and Promotion Forum (HRAPF).

A “tragic violation” of human rights

The news reignited fears sparked in March by the passage of the bill, then called a “discriminatory text – probably the worst in the world of its kind” by the head of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk. The High Commission said on Monday “dismayed” to see this bill come into force “contrary to the Constitution and international treaties”and which paves the way for “systematic violations of the rights of LGBT people”.

US President Joe Biden has denounced a “tragic injury” to human rights and studies the consequences of this law on “all aspects of cooperation between the United States and Uganda”. The head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borrell, talks about a law “deplorable” And “contrary to human rights”evoking relationships “compromised” with Kampala.