RBP
05-11-2011, 11:16 AM
Uganda urged to reject anti-gay bill
Kampala - Rights groups on Wednesday urged Ugandan lawmakers to reject a draconian anti-gay bill that proposes the death penalty for some homosexual acts.
The Ugandan parliament is expected to debate and vote on the Anti-Homosexuality Bill later on Wednesday following hearings by a parliamentary legal committe.
"It is deeply alarming that the Ugandan parliament is again considering this appalling bill, which flies in the face of human decency and violates international human rights law," said Michelle Kagari, Amnesty International's deputy director for Africa in a joint statement with Human Rights Watch.
"The Ugandan parliament should reject the Anti-Homosexuality Bill," the groups said.
The bill was first introduced in 2009 and has drawn widespread international condemnation.
It calls for the death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality", in cases of rape of a minor by a person of the same sex, or where one partner carries the virus that can cause Aids.
The bill also proposes to criminalise public discussion of homosexuality and would penalise an individual who knowingly rents property to a homosexual.
Homosexuality is already illegal in Uganda, punishable by life imprisonment in some instances.
"Not only would the bill institutionalise discrimination against those who are, or who are thought to be, gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender, if this bill is passed, it could be interpreted as an official incitement to commit violence against LGBT people," said Graeme Reid of the Human Rights Watch.
In January, a Ugandan gay rights activist whose name and picture appeared in a homophobic tabloid was murdered at his home in Kampala.
http://www.news24.com/Africa/News/Uganda-urged-to-reject-anti-gay-bill-20110511
Kampala - Rights groups on Wednesday urged Ugandan lawmakers to reject a draconian anti-gay bill that proposes the death penalty for some homosexual acts.
The Ugandan parliament is expected to debate and vote on the Anti-Homosexuality Bill later on Wednesday following hearings by a parliamentary legal committe.
"It is deeply alarming that the Ugandan parliament is again considering this appalling bill, which flies in the face of human decency and violates international human rights law," said Michelle Kagari, Amnesty International's deputy director for Africa in a joint statement with Human Rights Watch.
"The Ugandan parliament should reject the Anti-Homosexuality Bill," the groups said.
The bill was first introduced in 2009 and has drawn widespread international condemnation.
It calls for the death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality", in cases of rape of a minor by a person of the same sex, or where one partner carries the virus that can cause Aids.
The bill also proposes to criminalise public discussion of homosexuality and would penalise an individual who knowingly rents property to a homosexual.
Homosexuality is already illegal in Uganda, punishable by life imprisonment in some instances.
"Not only would the bill institutionalise discrimination against those who are, or who are thought to be, gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender, if this bill is passed, it could be interpreted as an official incitement to commit violence against LGBT people," said Graeme Reid of the Human Rights Watch.
In January, a Ugandan gay rights activist whose name and picture appeared in a homophobic tabloid was murdered at his home in Kampala.
http://www.news24.com/Africa/News/Uganda-urged-to-reject-anti-gay-bill-20110511