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Petition opposes Uganda gay bill Petition opposes Uganda gay bill
(about 8 hours later)
Campaigners opposing Uganda's anti-homosexuality bill will take a petition to the speaker of parliament signed by 500,000 people from around the world. Campaigners opposing Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Bill have taken an online petition to parliament, signed by 450,000 people from around the world.
The petition is the latest attempt to halt the bill, which carries the death penalty for some homosexual acts.The petition is the latest attempt to halt the bill, which carries the death penalty for some homosexual acts.
US President Barack Obama has called the proposed legislation "odious".US President Barack Obama has called the proposed legislation "odious".
The European Union has also condemned the bill, as did Britain's Africa minister, Baroness Kinnock, when she visited Uganda last week.The European Union has also condemned the bill, as did Britain's Africa minister, Baroness Kinnock, when she visited Uganda last week.
Now ordinary Ugandans are among those who have added their signatures to a petition being delivered to parliament on Monday. The petition was delivered by counsellors, who could face jail for failing to inform the authorities if somebody confided their homosexual activities to them.
The campaign is being led by Anglican priest Cannon Gideon Byamugisha and he has been joined by HIV/Aids activists and civic organisations. "This is a bill that requires various members of community, family members, service providers and spiritual mentors to "spy" on one another," a letter accompanying the petition reads.
All are taking a risk by speaking out publicly, after campaigners for the bill whipped up a storm of homophobic propaganda. The campaign is being led by Anglican priest Canon Gideon Byamugisha and he has been joined by HIV/Aids activists and civic organisations.
Campaign group Avaaz, which organised the online petition, hopes to get one million signatures.
Homosexual acts are already illegal in Uganda, but the government has indicated it expects the final bill to be watered down.Homosexual acts are already illegal in Uganda, but the government has indicated it expects the final bill to be watered down.