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Ugandan leader signs harsh anti-gay bill, ignores warning from Obama Ugandan leader signs harsh anti-gay bill, ignores warning from Obama
(40 minutes later)
NAIROBI — In the latest setback for gay people across Africa, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on Monday signed a new law that imposes tough penalties for homosexual acts, a move that could jeopardize Uganda’s relationship with the Obama administration and Western donors. NAIROBI — In the latest setback for gay people across Africa, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni signed a new law Monday that imposes tough penalties for homosexual acts, a move that drew condemnation from around the world and which could jeopardize Uganda’s relationship with the Obama administration and Western donors.
Homosexuality is already illegal in Uganda, but the new legislation threatens to usher in a new era of harsh justice for offenders and could lead to widespread oppression against gays and lesbians, human rights activists said. The legislation imposes a 14-year prison sentence for first-time offenders and life sentences for repeat offenders found guilty of “aggravated homosexuality.” Homosexuality is already illegal in Uganda, but the new legislation threatens to usher in a new era of harsh justice for offenders and could lead to widespread oppression against gays and lesbians, human rights activists say. The legislation imposes a 14-year prison sentence for first-time offenders and life sentences for repeat offenders found guilty of “aggravated homosexuality.”
The law also makes it a crime not to report anyone who breaks the new law, essentially ensuring that gays will need to live secret lives. The law even makes it a crime for the “promotion” and “recognition” of homosexual relations, including by any government entity or nongovernmental organization inside or outside Uganda. And for the first time, lesbians are covered in the new legislation. “1.54 pm: Officially illegal – President Museveni signs law to send me to jail,” Frank Mugisha, a prominent gay rights activist, wrote in a tweet.
“This deeply offensive piece of legislation is an affront to the human rights of all Ugandans and should never have got this far,” Michelle Kagari, Africa deputy director at Amnesty International, said in a statement. She described the law as “draconian and damaging.” The law also makes it a crime not to report anyone who breaks the new law, essentially ensuring that gays will need to live secret lives. The law even makes it a crime for the “promotion” and “recognition” of homosexual relations, including by any government entity or non-governmental organizations inside or outside of Uganda. And for the first time, lesbians are covered in the new legislation.
The law was signed a week after President Obama described the legislation as morally wrong and that it “will be a step backward for all Ugandans.” Enacting it, he added, “will complicate our valued relationship with Uganda.”
On Monday, Secretary of State John F. Kerry, in unusually strong language aimed at a key African ally, said that the United States was “deeply disappointed” with the law’s enactment and called for its repeal.
“Today’s signing threatens a dangerous slide backward in Uganda’s commitment to protecting the human rights of its people and a serious threat to the LGBT community in Uganda,” Kerry said in a statement. He also expressed concern at the law’s potential “to set back public health efforts in Uganda, including those to address HIV/AIDS, which must be conducted in a non-discriminatory manner in order to be effective.”
Over the past few years, the persecution of gays has escalated across Africa. Same-sex relationships are widely prohibited in the continent’s conservative societies, and intolerant politicians and fundamentalist preachers have increasingly targeted homosexuals. From Senegal to Zimbabwe, gays have been detained, attacked by police, tortured, even killed. They have been denied access to health care. In some nations, their graves have been desecrated. In others, they have faced expulsion.
Uganda’s legislation comes six weeks after Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan signed into law a tough ban on homosexuality that also imposed 14-year prison terms for anyone entering a same-sex union. It also sets 10-year prison sentences for those who run gay clubs or organizations. The legislation triggered an outbreak of anti-gay attacks in parts of Nigeria.
The new Ugandan law is considered to be more repressive.
“This deeply offensive piece of legislation is an affront to the human rights of all Ugandans and should never have got this far,” said Michelle Kagari, Africa deputy director at Amnesty International, in a statement. She described the law as “draconian and damaging.”
Kagari added: “This legislation will institutionalize hatred and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people in Uganda. Its passage into law signals a very grave episode in the nation’s history.”Kagari added: “This legislation will institutionalize hatred and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people in Uganda. Its passage into law signals a very grave episode in the nation’s history.”
The law was signed a week after President Obama said the legislation “will be a step backward for all Ugandans” and that enacting it “will complicate our valued relationship with Uganda.” The White House also released a statement Monday, in which it called the law “abhorrent.”
The White House released a statement Monday calling the law “abhorrent.”
“As President Obama has said, this law is more than an affront and a danger to the gay community in Uganda, it reflects poorly on the country’s commitment to protecting the human rights of its people and will undermine public health, including efforts to fight HIV/AIDS,” press secretary Jay Carney said in the e-mailed statement. “We will continue to urge the Ugandan government to repeal this abhorrent law and to advocate for the protection of the universal human rights of LGBT persons in Uganda and around the world.”“As President Obama has said, this law is more than an affront and a danger to the gay community in Uganda, it reflects poorly on the country’s commitment to protecting the human rights of its people and will undermine public health, including efforts to fight HIV/AIDS,” press secretary Jay Carney said in the e-mailed statement. “We will continue to urge the Ugandan government to repeal this abhorrent law and to advocate for the protection of the universal human rights of LGBT persons in Uganda and around the world.”
The U.S. State Department also weighed in, with Secretary of State John F. Kerry suggesting in a released statement that the new law will impact U.S. aid programs to the country. Other Western nations, including the United Kingdom, Belgium, Denmark and Sweden, also condemned the law, with some saying they will reconsider their aid to Ugandan government programs as a result.
“This legislation is not just morally wrong, it complicates a valued relationship,”the e-mailed statement said. “Now that this law has been enacted, we are beginning an internal review of our relationship with the Government of Uganda to ensure that all dimensions of our engagement, including assistance programs, uphold our anti-discrimination policies and principles and reflect our values.” In many countries, such as Uganda and Nigeria, homosexuality has been criminalized since British colonial rule, but the laws were seldom enforced. The rapid spread of evangelical forms of Christianity and Islam, both preaching a conservative vision of the family, has convinced many Africans that homosexuality should be eradicated. Today, 38 of Africa’s 54 countries have banned same-sex relationships, according to Amnesty International.
The United States is Uganda’s largest donor and staunchest Western ally, giving more than $400 million in aid annually. The Obama administration is widely expected to review its relationship and possibly take measures against Museveni’s government to show its displeasure. The United States is Uganda’s largest donor, giving more than $400 million in aid annually, and Kerry added that the administration will conduct “an internal review of our relationship” with the Ugandan government “to ensure that all dimensions of our engagement, including assistance programs, uphold our anti-discrimination policies and principles and reflect our values.”
However, Museveni showed no signs of concern Monday over the law’s potential impact on Western donors, including the United States, or on critics within Africa. However, Museveni showed no signs of concern Monday over the law’s potential impact on Western donors, particularly his staunchest Western ally, the United States.
Ugandan officials broke out in loud applause when Museveni signed the bill at his official residence in front of journalists and dignitaries.Ugandan officials broke out in loud applause when Museveni signed the bill at his official residence in front of journalists and dignitaries.
“There's now an attempt at social imperialism, to impose social values. We're sorry to see that you [the West] live the way you live, but we keep quiet about it,” he said, according to Reuters news agency. "There's now an attempt at social imperialism, to impose social values. We're sorry to see that you [the West] live the way you live but we keep quiet about it," he said, according to Reuters.
The legislation comes six weeks after Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan signed into law a tough ban on homosexuality that also imposes 14-year prison terms for anyone entering a same-sex union. It also sets 10-year prison sentences for those who run gay clubs or organizations. The legislation triggered an outbreak of anti-gay attacks in parts of Nigeria.
The new Ugandan law is considered to be even more restrictive.
Same-sex relationships are widely prohibited among the continent’s conservative societies. In many countries, including Uganda and Nigeria, homosexuality has been criminalized since British colonial rule, but the laws were seldom enforced. Today, 38 of Africa’s 54 countries ban same-sex relationships, according to Amnesty International.