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| Ugandan MPs pass life in jail anti-homosexual law | Ugandan MPs pass life in jail anti-homosexual law |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Uganda's parliament has passed a bill to toughen the punishment for homosexual acts to include life imprisonment in some cases. | Uganda's parliament has passed a bill to toughen the punishment for homosexual acts to include life imprisonment in some cases. |
| The anti-homosexuality bill also makes it a crime punishable by a prison sentence not to report gay people. | The anti-homosexuality bill also makes it a crime punishable by a prison sentence not to report gay people. |
| The prime minister opposed the vote, saying not enough MPs were present. | The prime minister opposed the vote, saying not enough MPs were present. |
| The bill has been condemned by world leaders since it was mooted in 2009 - US President Barack Obama called it "odious". | The bill has been condemned by world leaders since it was mooted in 2009 - US President Barack Obama called it "odious". |
| The BBC's Catherine Byaruhanga in Kampala says the government knows there will be an international outcry, which could see some countries suspend aid to the country. | The BBC's Catherine Byaruhanga in Kampala says the government knows there will be an international outcry, which could see some countries suspend aid to the country. |
| She says that Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi might follow up on his complaints about a lack of quorum, while it remains to be seen whether President Yoweri Museveni will sign the bill into law. | She says that Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi might follow up on his complaints about a lack of quorum, while it remains to be seen whether President Yoweri Museveni will sign the bill into law. |
| The private member's bill originally proposed the death penalty for some offences, such as if a minor was involved or the perpetrator was HIV-positive, but this has been replaced with life in prison. | The private member's bill originally proposed the death penalty for some offences, such as if a minor was involved or the perpetrator was HIV-positive, but this has been replaced with life in prison. |
| Miniskirt ban | Miniskirt ban |
| The MP behind the bill, David Bahati, told the AFP news agency: "This is victory for Uganda. I am glad the parliament has voted against evil." | The MP behind the bill, David Bahati, told the AFP news agency: "This is victory for Uganda. I am glad the parliament has voted against evil." |
| "Because we are a God-fearing nation, we value life in a holistic way. It is because of those values that members of parliament passed this bill regardless of what the outside world thinks," he said. | "Because we are a God-fearing nation, we value life in a holistic way. It is because of those values that members of parliament passed this bill regardless of what the outside world thinks," he said. |
| The bill also bans the promotion of homosexuality. | The bill also bans the promotion of homosexuality. |
| "I am officially illegal," Ugandan gay activist Frank Mugisha said after the vote. | "I am officially illegal," Ugandan gay activist Frank Mugisha said after the vote. |
| The bill's supporters say it is needed to protect traditional family values, which they say are under attack from Western-inspired gay rights groups. | The bill's supporters say it is needed to protect traditional family values, which they say are under attack from Western-inspired gay rights groups. |
| Its critics say the bill has been pushed by some US evangelical Christians. | |
| Uganda is a socially conservative country and on Thursday passed an Anti-Pornography Bill, which bans miniskirts and sexually suggestive material such as some music videos. | Uganda is a socially conservative country and on Thursday passed an Anti-Pornography Bill, which bans miniskirts and sexually suggestive material such as some music videos. |
| Human rights activists say the bill highlights the intolerance and discrimination the gay community faces in Uganda. | Human rights activists say the bill highlights the intolerance and discrimination the gay community faces in Uganda. |
| One gay activist was killed in 2011, although the police denied he was targeted because of his sexuality. | One gay activist was killed in 2011, although the police denied he was targeted because of his sexuality. |
| Meanwhile a local newspaper has been condemned for publishing the names and addresses of people it said were gay. | Meanwhile a local newspaper has been condemned for publishing the names and addresses of people it said were gay. |
| Holidaymakers and visiting foreigners are not immune from prosecution under Uganda's existing anti-homosexuality laws. | |
| A retired British man is awaiting trial in Entebbe on charges of possessing a gay sex video after thieves found images on his laptop. | |
| Sixty-five-year-old Bernard Randall, from Kent, faces a possible two-year prison sentence if found guilty. | |
| His friend Albert Cheptoyek, a Ugandan national with whom he shares a house, has denied a more serious charge of carrying out "acts of gross indecency", which could see him jailed for up to seven years if found guilty. |