Uganda politicians celebrate passing of anti-gay laws

The Ugandan President Yoweri-Museveni signed anti-gay bill on 24 February 2014 which imposes tough penalties for homosexual acts.

Main features of the bill

• Homosexuality being already illegal in Uganda, the new legislation imposes a 14 year prison sentence for the first time offenders and life sentence for repeat offenders found guilty of aggravated homosexuality.
• The law makes illegal the promotion and recognition of homosexual relations, including by any government entity or nongovernmental organization inside or outside Uganda. This is the first time the law targets lesbians.
• The law makes it a crime to fail to report anyone who breaks the law, essentially ensuring that gays will need to live secret lives.

Background Analysis:

• The US President Barak Obama and Secretary of State John F Kerry described the anti-gay law as morally wrong which will be a step backward for all Ugandans. And also they expressed that US was deeply disappointed with the enactment of law and called for its repeal.
• The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, or ILGA, lists 78 countries (real figure 83 ) with criminal laws against sexual activity by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex people (LGBTIs).
•  In January 2014, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan signed the law that bans  homosexuality and imposes 14 year prison terms for anyone entering a same-sex union.  It also sets 10-year prison sentences for those who run gay clubs or organizations.
• In India, enforcement of the law against homosexual activity had been suspended by Delhi High Court ruling on Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code. However, the Supreme Court overturned the Delhi HC ruling on 11 December 2013. So India is back on the main list of countries with anti-homosexuality laws.