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Ugandan President Museveni 'to sign' anti-gay bill Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni signs anti-gay bill
(about 3 hours later)
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni is set to sign into law a controversial new bill under which homosexuals could be given long prison terms. Uganda's president has signed into law a bill toughening penalties for gay people and criminalising those who do not report them.
He wants to approve the law before foreign media to assert "Uganda's independence in the face of Western pressure", a spokesman said. A government spokesman said President Yoweri Museveni wanted to assert Uganda's "independence in the face of Western pressure".
US President Barack Obama has cautioned the bill would be a backward step.US President Barack Obama has cautioned the bill would be a backward step.
Mr Museveni had previously agreed to put the bill on hold pending US scientific advice. The president had previously agreed to put the bill on hold pending US scientific advice.
"The president is signing the anti-homosexuality bill today [Monday] at 11:00 [0800 GMT]," government spokesman Ofwono Opondo told Reuters news agency.
"He wants to sign it with the full witness of the international media to demonstrate Uganda's independence in the face of Western pressure and provocation."
Homosexual acts are already illegal in Uganda.Homosexual acts are already illegal in Uganda.
The new law punishes first-time offenders with 14 years in jail, and allows life imprisonment as the penalty for acts of "aggravated homosexuality".The new law punishes first-time offenders with 14 years in jail, and allows life imprisonment as the penalty for acts of "aggravated homosexuality".
The law makes it a crime not to report gay people. It covers lesbians for the first time, and criminalises the promotion of homosexuality - even talking about it without condemning it. The law makes it a crime not to report gay people - in effect making it impossible to live as openly gay.
It criminalises the "promotion" and even the mere "recognition" of homosexual relations "through or with the support of any government entity in Uganda or any other non-governmental organisation inside or outside the country".
Lesbians are covered by the bill for the first time.
The bill originally proposed the death penalty for some homosexual acts, but that was later removed amid international criticism.The bill originally proposed the death penalty for some homosexual acts, but that was later removed amid international criticism.
A gay rights activist in Uganda told the BBC's Newsday programme he was "very scared" about the new bill. 'Very scared'
"Actually I didn't even go to work today [Monday]. I'm locked up in the house. Earlier government spokesman spokesman Ofwono Opondo told Reuters news agency Mr Museveni wanted to sign the bill in front of the international media "to demonstrate Uganda's independence in the face of Western pressure and provocation".
The sponsor of the bill, MP David Bahati, insisted homosexuality was a "behaviour that can be learned and can be unlearned".
"Homosexuality is just bad behaviour, that should not be allowed in our society," he told the BBC's Newsday programme.
But a gay rights activist in Uganda told the programme that he was "very scared" about the new bill.
"I didn't even go to work today [Monday]. I'm locked up in the house.
"And I don't know what's going to happen now. I'm talking to all my activists on the phone. And it's the same, they are all locked up in their houses. They can't move out. They are watching their back to see what happens.""And I don't know what's going to happen now. I'm talking to all my activists on the phone. And it's the same, they are all locked up in their houses. They can't move out. They are watching their back to see what happens."
'Affront and danger'
Mr Museveni's renewed determination to sign the bill is an apparent U-turn from a recent pledge to hold off, pending advice from the US.Mr Museveni's renewed determination to sign the bill is an apparent U-turn from a recent pledge to hold off, pending advice from the US.
In a statement, Mr Museveni had 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 had 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."
The US - one of Uganda's largest aid donors - has warned that enacting the bill would complicate relations.
President Obama described it as "more than an affront, and a danger to, Uganda's gay community. It will be a step backwards for all Ugandans".President Obama described it as "more than an affront, and a danger to, Uganda's gay community. It will be a step backwards for all Ugandans".
He warned it could "complicate" Washington's relations with Uganda.He warned it could "complicate" Washington's relations with Uganda.
The US provides a reported $400m (£240m) in annual aid to Uganda.The US provides a reported $400m (£240m) in annual aid to Uganda.
In South Africa, former archbishop Desmond Tutu said he was disheartened by President Museveni's apparent change of stance.In South Africa, former archbishop Desmond Tutu said he was disheartened by President Museveni's apparent change of stance.