Now President Museveni must enact the law or veto it
3 May. (EUROPE PRESS) –
The Ugandan parliament approved the controversial anti-LGBTI bill on Tuesday following requests from the country’s president, Yoweri Museveni, who had returned the measure to Parliament for review.
After an almost unanimous vote — with only one of the parliamentarians voting against — the measure has passed and must now be signed or vetoed by Museveni.
The president of the Chamber, Annet Anita Among, has announced the passage of the norm and has affirmed that “we have a culture to protect, the West will not rule in Uganda”, according to the newspaper ‘Daily Monitor’.
The changes imply that only “acts” or “promotion” of homosexual activities will be penalized and not sexual orientation itself, as the president had requested, changes that will not silence the criticism of international Human Rights organizations, which They have spoken out against the measure.
On the other hand, they have not made another of the changes requested by the president, who asked to review the punishment of the crime of “aggravated homosexuality” –when it involves minors or there are family ties–, which will remain a capital offense with a possible penalty. of death.
Yes, a section has been eliminated that punished those who do not notify the authorities of alleged acts of homosexuality with up to six months in prison, and sentences of up to 20 years in prison for “promoting homosexuality” are maintained.
The law, which also persecutes journalists, filmmakers or companies that are considered responsible in some way for promoting homosexuality, has received all kinds of criticism internationally, but both Museveni and Parliament have made it clear that they will not make decisions based on these opinions.
