Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill Won’t Be Dropped: Parliament Speaker
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Parliament Speaker Edward Sekandi has told critics of the anti-homosexuality bill that it won’t be withdrawn.
Proposed in October, 2009, the measure would broaden the criminalization of homosexuality and introduce the death penalty for those who have previous convictions, are HIV positive or engage in homosexual sex with people younger than 18. Gay sex already is illegal in Uganda.
Sekandi suggested those opposed to the bill present views to the parliamentary legal affairs committee.
“We shall consider your views, but we cannot withdraw the bill,” Ssekandi said Monday. “It has to follow proper procedures.”
Sekandi was responding to a petition presented to Parliament by a group that described itself as AIDS service providers, spiritual mentors and counselors. It is headed by the Rev. Gideon Byamugisha. More than 450,000 people have signed an online petition against the bill.
“We are calling on you to reject this Bill and the hatred, intolerance, self-righteousness and violence it promotes,” the petition said.
The activists added that being gay was a right that needed to be respected.
The group, which includes prominent AIDS activists like Rtd Maj Rubaramira Ruranga, said “We’ll lose what we’ve achieved in the AIDS fight.” Pressed to show how the bill would do that, Rubaramira said “Gay infected patients will fear to go for treatment since the law requires the doctors to report the patient within 24 hours.”
Sekandi then asked: “Would you be happy if your son brought home a man or your daughter another girl for a partner?”
Though President Museveni aims for this bill not to effect foreign policy, diplomatically speaking, it may be too late.