- They said he assented despite numerous calls from citizens of Uganda, communities, civil society, and development partners.
- They called for the law to be repealed and also called on the leadership of the East African Community to condemn the outrageous legislation.
Image: YOWERI MUSEVENI/TWITTER
47 civil society and community-based organisations from the East African Community Region have condemned the passage and assent of the Anti-Homosexuality Act in Uganda.
In a statement, the activist groups said they are disappointed that Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni proceeded to assent to the Anti-Homosexuality Act, of 2023.
They said he assented despite numerous calls from citizens of Uganda, communities, civil society, and development partners.
“We express concern over the negative impact that this legislation will have on the ability of the LGBTQ+ community in Uganda to access health services, including HIV prevention, treatment, and management services,” the statement read.
In May, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni signed into law the anti-gay bill, which prescribes tougher penalties for ''aggravated homosexuality''.
The new law, one of the harshest anti-LGBTQ laws in the world, makes homosexuality illegal with offenders set to face a 20-year jail sentence for promoting homosexuality.
Uganda now faces possible sanctions on financial aid from donors following the enactment of the bill with activists promoting LGBTQ expected to mount a legal challenge.
According to the organisations, the law will exacerbate and legitimize violence, harassment, aggression, intimidation, discrimination, increase HIV infection rates, and stigma against the LGBTQ+ community in Uganda.
“This law breaches national, regional, and international human rights commitments that Uganda is a signatory to and advances a cause that violates fundamental human rights of the people of Uganda, breeding a culture of intolerance and violence,” reads the statement.
The objects of the law and the crimes it creates are egregious and in violation of Uganda’s national, regional, and international obligations and responsibilities to respect, protect and uphold human rights.
"Laws that criminalize consensual same-sex conduct drive entire populations underground and make it exceedingly difficult for individuals to access effective health care services."
This is particularly in relation to Sexual and Reproductive Health or interventions for the management of HIV and opportunistic infections like TB.
“By legitimizing stigma, discrimination, and violence, the effect of this law will be to stop people from accessing health care interventions which enable them to lead safe and dignified lives," the statement read.
Further, by purporting to protect family values, the law takes a narrow and restrictive conception of family, yet family is formed in various ways.
In conclusion, they called for the law to be repealed and also called on the leadership of the East African Community to condemn, in no uncertain terms, the outrageous legislation.