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Activists slam proposed penalties for same-sex relations in Uganda
Kenyan gays and lesbians and others supporting their cause wear masks to preserve their anonymity as they stage a rare protest, against Uganda's tough stance against homosexuality and in solidarity with their counterparts there, outside the Uganda High Commission in Nairobi, Kenya, Feb. 10, 2014.
ACTIVISTS have slammed the introduction of proposed new tough penalties for same-sex relationships in Uganda.
Annet Anita Among, the speaker of the Ugandan parliament, referred the Bill to a house committee for scrutiny on Thursday, the first step in an accelerated process to pass the proposal into law.
There would be “a public hearing” in which sexual minorities would be allowed to participate, she said in an address before parliament laced with homophobic language.
Under the proposed law, anyone who engages in same-sex activity or who “holds out” as LGBT could face up to 10 years’ imprisonment.
Ugandan lawmakers passed a Bill in 2014 that called for life in prison for people caught having gay sex, although a court later struck down the law.
Human Rights Watch said the new legislation was “a revised and more egregious version” of the 2014 Bill.
HRW Uganda researcher Oryem Nyeko said: “Ugandan politicians should focus on passing laws that protect vulnerable minorities and affirm fundamental rights and stop targeting LGBT people for political capital.”
Uganda is notorious for its intolerance of homosexuality, which is criminalised under colonial-era laws.
But since independence from Britain in 1962 there has never been a conviction for consensual same-sex activity.
SOURCE: MORNING STAR
