Uganda

Ugandan lawmakers on Tuesday approved some of the world's harshest anti-gay laws, making some crimes punishable by death and imposing up to 20 years in ...

Museveni last week derided homosexuals as “deviants.” It targets an array of activities, and includes a ban on promoting and abetting homosexuality as well as conspiracy to engage in homosexuality, Reuters reported. “We will go to all courts in Uganda. “One of the most extreme features of this new bill is that it criminalizes people simply for being who they are as well as further infringing on the rights to privacy, and freedoms of expression and association that are already compromised in Uganda,” HRW Uganda researcher Oryem Nyeko said in a statement that called on politicians in the country to “stop targeting LGBT people for political capital.” “The objective of the bill was to establish a comprehensive and enhanced legislation to protect traditional family values, our diverse culture, our faiths, by prohibiting any form of sexual relations between persons of the same sex and the promotion or recognition of sexual relations between persons of the same sex,” Basalirwa said on Tuesday. [Ugandan lawmakers](https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/08/africa/uganda-shuts-lgbtq-group-intl/index.html) on Tuesday approved some of the world’s harshest anti-gay laws, making some crimes punishable by death and imposing up to 20 years in prison for people identifying as [LGBTQ+](https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/10/africa/uganda-bill-criminalize-lgbtq-intl/index.html).

The U.N.'s top human rights official is urging Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to block an anti-LGBTQ bill that prescribes harsh penalties for some ...

But the group’s leader stated that his organization had been rejected by the registrar of companies as undesirable. rights chief, said in the statement. The bill now goes to Museveni, who can veto or sign it into law. Aggravated homosexuality applies in cases of sex relations involving those infected with HIV as well as minors and other categories of vulnerable people. He noted that this would be “really unfortunate” since most U.S. high commissioner for human rights, said in a statement.

The bill now heads to the desk of President Yoweri Museveni, who can veto or sign it into law.

[New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/22/world/africa/uganda-lgtbq-anti-gay-law.html). [Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/03/22/uganda-anti-homosexuality-bill-2023/). It also targets persons seen as aiding and abetting homosexuality — a provision which HRW says could affect social support networks, including friends and family. [Human Rights Watch](https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/03/17/human-rights-watch-submission-uganda-parliament-committee-legal-and-parliamentary). [Human Rights Watch](https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/03/09/uganda-new-anti-gay-bill-further-threatens-rights). [AP](https://apnews.com/article/lgbtq-rights-uganda-africa-gay-rights-3b4631458cb06a5f87c4b0c68a4de434).

The proposed law calls for penalties up to life in prison and even the death sentence for what is described as “aggravated homosexuality.”.

“The Anti-Homosexuality Act passed by the Ugandan Parliament yesterday would undermine fundamental human rights of all Ugandans and could reverse gains in the fight against HIV/AIDS,” Blinken wrote. in promoting stability and combating terrorism in the region. are never going to shy away or be bashful about speaking up for those rights and for individuals to live as they deem fit, as they want to live,” he said. It would also threaten prosecution and imprisonment for people and institutions, including the media, that distribute any conduct that advocates gay rights or “promotes homosexuality,” “That would be really unfortunate because so much of the economic assistance we provide Uganda is health assistance,” Kirby said at a press briefing. Although he hasn’t commented on the specific legislation, Museveni has previously supported anti-LGBTQ+ measures. The money supports development and health care measures, such as combating HIV/AIDS. “We … aid to the African country. A person convicted of "attempted aggravated homosexuality" faces 14 years behind bars. [according to the BBC](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-65034343). [according to the State Department](https://www.state.gov/u-s-relations-with-uganda/#:~:text=U.S.%20Assistance%20to%20Uganda,exceeding%20%24950%20million%20per%20year.).

Kenyan gays and lesbians and others supporting their cause wear masks to preserve their anonymity as they stage a rare protest against Uganda's tough stance ...

"If signed into law by the president, it will render lesbian, gay and bisexual people in Uganda criminals simply for existing, for being who they are," he said. He added, "We urge the Ugandan Government to strongly reconsider the implementation of this legislation." "From the very start, this whole bill coming into Uganda was because of, for example, American evangelicals who would come to Uganda. The law would also punish anyone who identifies as gay or queer, and potentially people or rights groups seen to promote or support LGBTQ identity. But for Lusimbo, like many, this legislation is the result of pressure both from within and outside the country. Same-sex acts were already unlawful in Uganda, but on Tuesday night, lawmakers voted to ban identifying as LGBTQ+, or the so-called promotion of gay identity.

The measure appears to be the first to outlaw merely identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer, according to rights group Human Rights ...

... I support the bill to protect the future of our children,” lawmaker David Bahati said during debate on the bill. Aggravated homosexuality involves gay sex with people under age 18 or when the perpetrator is HIV-positive, among other categories, according to the measure. Nobody should intimidate us.” This month, authorities arrested a secondary school teacher in the eastern district of Jinja over accusations of “grooming of young girls into unnatural sex practices.” She was charged with gross indecency and is in prison awaiting trial. Nobody should blackmail us. Supporters of the new measure say it is needed to punish a broader array of LGBTQ activities, which they say threaten traditional values in the conservative and religious East African country.

Uganda said on Thursday it expects its mountainous public debt to enter a "declining trend" helped by strong economic growth, which is projected to hit 7% ...

We project that real GDP growth will increase to over 7 percent at the start of commercial oil production." Register for free to Reuters and know the full story [(0883.HK)](https://www.reuters.com/companies/0883.HK) [launched](/world/africa/uganda-unveil-first-commercial-oil-production-drilling-programme-2023-01-24/) the drilling programme for the first production well in the fields which it co-owns with France's TotalEnergies [(TTEF.PA)](https://www.reuters.com/companies/TTEF.PA) and Uganda's national oil company.

KAMPALA, Uganda — (AP) — A prominent leader of Uganda's LGBTQ community said Thursday he was worried about becoming "homeless," describing anguished calls ...

The bill was introduced last month by an opposition lawmaker who said his goal was to punish the “promotion, recruitment and funding” of LGBTQ activities in this East African country where homosexuals are widely disparaged. “Many people are concerned about getting outed,” he said. The recent decision of the Church of England to bless civil marriages of same-sex couples also has inflamed many, including some who see homosexuality as imported from abroad. Jail terms of up to 20 years are proposed for those who advocate or promote the rights of LGBTQ people. “I am worried about being evicted from the place where I live, because I don't own property. “I am worried about being evicted,” said Frank Mugisha, head of the banned LGBTQ support group Sexual Minorities Uganda.

If assented to by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, the bill will hand authorities broad powers to target gay Ugandans who already face legal discrimination ...

“If signed into law by the president, it will render lesbian, gay and bisexual people in Uganda criminals simply for existing, for being who they are. She was subsequently charged with gross indecency and is in prison awaiting trial. The police said on Monday they had arrested six people accused of running a network that was “actively involved in the grooming of young boys into acts of sodomy”. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the legislation would “undermine fundamental human rights of all Ugandans and could reverse gains in the fight against HIV/AIDS” and urged Uganda to reconsider the implementation of the bill. “The passing of this discriminatory bill – probably among the worst of its kind in the world – is a deeply troubling development,” he said in a statement. But opposition politicians boycotted a speech by Museveni on Thursday, in which he described gay people as “deviations”, to protest against human rights violations and the illegal imprisonment and forced disappearance of their supporters.

The United Nations rights chief on Wednesday urged Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to block an anti-LGBTQ bill passed this week that prescribes harsh ...

If anyone were to rent a room to a gay couple, they could go to jail for 10 years," Nyeko said. "If signed into law by the president, it will render lesbian, gay and bisexual people in Uganda criminals simply for existing, for being who they are," Turk, the U.N. He suggested in a recent speech that he supports the legislation, accusing unnamed Western nations of "trying to impose their practices on other people." "It could provide carte blanche for the systematic violation of nearly all of their human rights and serve to incite people against each other." [introduced last month](https://apnews.com/article/lgbtq-rights-uganda-africa-bb09f1747ca18a0b707e49ea964fba92) by an opposition lawmaker who said his goal was to punish "promotion, recruitment and funding" related to LGBTQ activities in this East African country where homosexuals are widely disparaged. Aggravated homosexuality applies in cases of sex relations involving those infected with HIV, as well as minors.

Uganda is one of 30 African countries which bans same-sex acts, but the new legislation from the Parliament takes things a step further.

[warned](https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/press-briefings/2023/03/22/press-briefing-by-press-secretary-karine-jean-pierre-and-nsc-coordinator-for-strategic-communications-john-kirby-11/) of potential economic repercussions if the bill is signed into law. ‘s High Commissioner for Human Rights, [called the bill](https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2023/03/uganda-turk-urges-president-not-sign-shocking-anti-homosexuality-bill) “draconian” and urged Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni not to sign it. “Congratulations,” said Anita Among, the speaker of the parliament. [Ozempic Exposed the Cracks in the Body Positivity Movement](https://time.com/6263689/ozempic-cracks-body-positivity/?utm_source=roundup&utm_campaign=20230202) [Major Investigations Into Donald Trump](https://time.com/6212677/donald-trump-investigations-explained/?utm_source=roundup&utm_campaign=20230202) [Who Should Be on the 2023 TIME100?](https://time.com/time100-reader-poll-2023/?utm_source=roundup&utm_campaign=20230202)Vote Now - The

Advocats say Uganda's passage of an anti-homosexuality bill could be the impetus for similar far-reaching legislation across Africa.

"People don't want to be associated with [homosexuals] because of the possibility of being tagged a criminal for not reporting. Tony Perkins, president of Washington-based Family Research Council, tweeted Wednesday that "Gender/Sexual ideology is not enshrined in international human rights treaties." "I have been in this house for over four years. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called the bill "one of the most extreme LGBTQI+ laws in the world." Some supporters of the bill said it would make Uganda comport with God's wishes. sanctions against Uganda, saying, if enacted, the bill could force "repercussions that we would have to take, perhaps in an economic way."

My friend, Jacob, reaches out to me in Albany, New York, 7677 miles and many worlds away, from his home in Mbale, Uganda. He is seeking matzah bread for ...

They are people with the same - and worse - problems as other groups of human beings. Unleavened, flat and crumbly, matzah is referred to in the Hebrew Bible as the “bread of affliction and poverty”, which is consumed during the Passover seder meal. And we all are bound together across tremendous distances, as Jews, as members of global humanity, seeking to nourish each other with the great hope that hunger, hatred, and the heartache of mothers who lose their children will forever cease. Western or African, wealthier or poorer, white or black, we all descend from the Israelites of Egypt: their experience of slavery and redemption established the basic standards of human decency that no one should be a slave to any Pharaoh, whether political or nutritional. Jacob’s questions to me about the Bible and Jewish theology, and his reports to me about the Jews of Uganda, force me to remember that the Abayudaya are an integral part of the worldwide Jewish community. He is seeking matzah bread for Passover and prayers for his community, known as the Abayudaya, whose pregnant mothers are being devastated by a disease that is killing their babies in the womb.