• Uganda parliament passes bill criminalizing homosexuality
• Authorities impose the death penalty for aggravated homosexuality
• Human Rights Watch criticizes the bill for limiting freedom of expression

The Ugandan parliament passed a bill that criminalizes identifying as a homosexual and provides steep punishments, including a lengthy jail sentence and even the death penalty for some cases.

Under the new law, people who are found guilty would be imprisoned, which is legislation signed by President Yoweri Museveni. Under the new law, friends, family, and members of the community are mandated to report individuals who are in same-sex relationships to the authorities,

Uganda Parliament Criminalizes Homosexuality

The situation comes as homosexual acts are already considered against the law in the east African country. However, the new bill aims to further criminalize citizens based only on their sexual identity without regard to their actions.

The bill was first tabled earlier this month and passed with widespread support in the country's parliament on Tuesday. Museveni had a chance to use his veto, which would cause him to maintain good relations with Western donors and investors, but he chose to sign it into law instead, as per BBC.

The new law also states that any individual found guilty of grooming or trafficking children to engage them in homosexual activities could face life imprisonment. Also, individuals or institutions which support or provide funding for LGBT rights activities or organizations face imprisonment.

There is now a small group of Ugandan MPs on a committee scrutinizing the new bill and disagreeing with its premise. They claim that the offenses it seeks to criminalize are already included in the nation's Penal Code Act.

In response to the new law, activists, and LGBT people in the country, argued that anti-homosexuality sentiment in Uganda is exposing them to physical and online violence. They added that the bill could have far-reaching consequences for the nation's people.

Read Also: Russia-Ukraine War Update 

Imposing Death Penalty

Opposition lawmaker Asuman Basalirwa was the one who introduced the Anti Homosexuality Bill 2023 to the Ugandan parliament. According to CNN, he said that the proposal aimed to protect the church's culture and the legal, religious, and traditional family values of the nation's people.

On the other hand, Fox Odoi-Oywelowo spoke out against the new bill, saying it goes against established international and regional human rights standards. He argued that it unfairly limits the fundamental rights of LGBTQ+ individuals.

Furthermore, earlier this month, the rights advocacy group Human Rights Watch warned that the new law would violate Uganda people's rights to freedom of expression and association privacy, equality, and non-discrimination.

In a statement, an Uganda researcher at Human Rights Watch, Oryem Nyeko, said that one of the most extreme features of the anti-homosexuality bill is criminalizing people for simply being who they truly are.

While, in general, the law only imposes prison sentences, it has a section that would give someone the death penalty for aggravated homosexuality. This involves gay sex with individuals under 18 years old or when the suspect is found to be HIV positive, among other categories, said Reuters.

Related Article: Xi Jinping Meets with Vladimir Putin