President Yoweri Museveni has signed the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, 2023 into law.
The pronouncement was made on State House’s official Twitter handle this morning.
“President Yoweri Museveni has assented to the Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2023. It now becomes the Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023,” the tweet reads.
Parliament first passed the bill in March 2023, but it was returned by the President who asked the House to reconsider some clauses that were ambiguous. The President was mainly concerned on lack of clear distinction between being a homosexual and actually engaging in acts of homosexuality.
Upon reconsideration of the clauses, Parliament passed the bill in May.
As passed, the Act criminalises acts and promotion of homosexuality and anyone engaging in acts of homosexuality will face 20 years in jail. The law awards a death penalty for any one engaging in aggravated homosexuality.
Other bills assented to by the President include; Museums & Monuments Bill 2022, The Public Health Amendment Bill 2022, The Markets Bill 2022 and The Micro-Finance Deposits taking Institutions amendment Bill 2022
Speaker Anita Among has appreciated Parliament and President for defending the Constitution and protecting African culture and families.
“As the Parliament of Uganda, we have answered the cries of our people. We have legislated to protect the sanctity of family as per Article 31 of the Constitutionof Uganda. We have stood strong to defend our culture and aspirations of our people as per objectives 19 & 24 of national objectives and directive principles of state policy,” she said.
“I thank His Excellency, the president, for his steadfast action in the interest of Uganda. With a lot of humility, I thank my colleagues the Members of Parliament for withstanding all the pressure from bullies and doomsday conspiracy theorists in the interest of our country. By their action, we have lived by our motto: ‘For God and our Country’.”
She urged the responsible authorities to implement the law to the fullest.
“I now encourage the duty bearers under the law to execute the mandate bestowed upon them in the Anti-Homosexuality Act. The people of Uganda have spoken, and it is your duty to now enforce the law in a fair, steadfast, and firm manner,” Among said.
