Uganda House passes new version of tough anti-gay bill

KAMPALA: Ugandan lawmakers on Tuesday passed a new version of an anti-gay bill to remove a clause that appeared to criminalise identifying as LGBTQ. President Yoweri Museveni returned the bill last month to the national assembly, asking for changes that would differentiate between identifying as LGBTQ and actually engaging in homosexual acts.

The legislation prescribes the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality”, which is defined as cases of sexual relations involving a minor and other categories of vulnerable people, or when the perpetrator is infected with HIV. A suspect convicted of “attempted aggravated homosexuality” can be imprisoned for up to 14 years, in prison, and the offense of “attempted homosexuality” is punishable by up to 10 years, according to the bill.

Although the law would no longer criminalise individuals who identify as LGBTQ, the revised version still allows prison sentences of up to 20 years for promoting the rights of LGBTQ people. The bill passed on Tuesday now returns to the president, who can sign or veto it. Museveni is under pressure from the international community to veto the legislation.