Extreme Legislation in Uganda Targets Homosexuals
Published 14 Dec 2009, 10:48 am -
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Proposed legislation in Uganda targeting homosexuals may reportedly be revised before coming to the parliament in the coming weeks. As it was introduced earlier this October, homosexuality, already a crime in the African nation, would be subjected to harsher prosecution if the bill were to become law. Member of Parliament David Bahati of the ruling National Resistance Movement party drew international criticism for sponsoring the anti-gay legislation creating offenses such as ‘aggravated homosexuality” and calling for the death penalty as maximum punishment for those convicted of it. It would also seek life imprisonment for anyone found committing a homosexual act and set a seven year sentence for those guilty of aiding, abetting, counseling or procuring one. Religious, political, economic and social authorities that fail to report homosexuality would face three years of imprisonment. Before the anti-gay legislation comes to a vote in parliament, Bloomberg has cited a Ugandan Ethics Minister who has said that the bill would be amended to no longer include provisions calling for the death penalty and life imprisonment. Even if the most extreme punishments were to be revised, the gestures would not likely stem international criticism. However, they could help pass the bill into law.
GUEST: Gerald Lemelle, Executive Director of Africa Action
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