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Uganda: Museveni 'seeks US advice on homosexuality' | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
President Yoweri Museveni is asking the US to advise Uganda's scientists about homosexuality, as he considers whether to sign a law increasing punishments. | |
Mr Museveni's spokesman said the president would not sign the law until he had received the scientific advice. | Mr Museveni's spokesman said the president would not sign the law until he had received the scientific advice. |
Last week he said he had decided to sign the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, which parliament has passed. | Last week he said he had decided to sign the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, which parliament has passed. |
The US - one of Uganda's largest aid donors - has warned that enacting the bill would complicate relations. | |
President Barack Obama described it as an affront, and a danger to, Uganda's gay community. | President Barack Obama described it as an affront, and a danger to, Uganda's gay community. |
BBC regional analyst Richard Hamilton says President Museveni is trying to please a conservative local constituency while avoiding alienating Western aid donors. | |
Homosexual acts are already illegal in Uganda. Under the proposed legislation, those convicted could face life imprisonment. | |
The law would also make it a crime not to report gay people. | The law would also make it a crime not to report gay people. |
'Behavioural choice' | 'Behavioural choice' |
In a statement, Mr Museveni said: "I... encourage the US government to help us by working with our scientists to study whether, indeed, there are people who are born homosexual. | In a statement, Mr Museveni said: "I... encourage the US government to help us by working with our scientists to study whether, indeed, there are people who are born homosexual. |
"When that is proved, we can review this legislation." | "When that is proved, we can review this legislation." |
Presidential spokesman Tamale Mirundi told Reuters news agency the bill would be on hold for now "until more conclusive research is done, and that's what the president is saying". | |
Mr Museveni originally refused to sign the bill, saying that it was wrong to punish people who were born "abnormal". | |
But then a team of Ugandan scientists advised him that homosexuality was a behavioural choice and so should be punished. | But then a team of Ugandan scientists advised him that homosexuality was a behavioural choice and so should be punished. |
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 that clause has been dropped. | 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 that clause has been dropped. |
Uganda already has legislation banning gay sex between men, but the proposed law sharply tightens restrictions - and covers lesbians for the first time. | Uganda already has legislation banning gay sex between men, but the proposed law sharply tightens restrictions - and covers lesbians for the first time. |
Promotion of homosexuality - even talking about it without condemning it - would also be punishable by a prison sentence. | Promotion of homosexuality - even talking about it without condemning it - would also be punishable by a prison sentence. |