Government To Re-introduce “Kill the Gays” Bill

By Our Reporter

Kampala, Uganda: The controversial Anti-Homosexuality Bill is back.

Plans are rife by the Government of Uganda to reintroduce the Bill that would punish homosexuality with the death penalty.

Termed, as “Kill the Gays” the Bill that was nullified nullified five years ago on a technicality, has been resurrected and expected to be tabled before the floor of parliament soon.

The government said the legislation would curb a rise in “unnatural sex” in Uganda.

“Homosexuality is not natural to Ugandans, but there has been a massive recruitment by gay people in schools, and especially among the youth, where they are promoting the falsehood that people are born like that,” Ethics and Integrity minister, Rev Fr. Simon Lokodo, said on Thursday in Kampala.

Lokodo said the current penal law is “limited,” making it clear that anyone involved in “promotion and recruitment” will be criminalised.

“Those that do grave acts will be given the death sentence,” he said.

Lokodo said the Bill, which has the support of the country’s president, Yoweri Museveni, will be reintroduced in parliament in the coming weeks.

He said it was expected to be voted on before the end of the year.

The minister was optimistic the Bill would pass with the necessary two-thirds of members present as the government had lobbied legislators ahead of its reintroduction.

In 2014, Uganda faced widespread international condemnation when the Bill was signed off by Museveni.

Back ground

The Uganda Anti Homosexuality Act, 2014 was passed that was introduced by David Bahati (State Minister for Planning) in Parliament was passed on December 20, 2013 and signed into law by Presdient Museveni on 24^th February, 2014.

The bill was however nullified when senior lawyers, led by former West Budama North MP, Odoi Fox Oywelowo went to the constitutional court. The court made the ruling on 1 August 2014.

The Act that criminalized same- sex relations in Uganda was thrown out by judges on technicalities, regarding inadequate quorum when it was passed in Parliament.

If it passes when it returns, the Act will provide punishment and tough penalties for individuals, companies, and NGOs that aid or abet same- sex, or sexual acts, including gay marriage.

Tough measures

After the Bill was signed into law by the President, the World Bank indefinitely postponed a $90 million aid loan to Uganda. Similar aid sanctions were slapped on Uganda by the governments of Sweden, Norway and Netherlands.