Widespread condemnation as Uganda proposes death penalty for ‘aggravated homosexuality’

America, the United Nations and the UK have all condemned a new anti-gay bill passed in Uganda, with Washington suggesting it could trigger sanctions.

The bill still needs presidential assent, but prescribes the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality” and life imprisonment for “homosexuality”.

The bill passed by Uganda’s parliament earlier this week was immediately denounced by the United Nations as “probably among the worst of its kind in the world”.

Andrew Mitchell, minister for Africa and development, said: “The UK is deeply disappointed by the Ugandan Parliament’s decision to pass the Anti-Homosexuality Bill.”

The White House quickly warned Kampala of possible economic “repercussions” if the new restrictions are enacted by President Yoweri Museveni.

“We would have to take a look at whether or not there might be repercussions that we would have to take, perhaps in an economic way, should this law actually get passed and enacted,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters.

He said implementation of the law remained a “big if”, but said Washington was “watching this real closely”.

Financial repercussions “would be really unfortunate because so much of the economic assistance that we provide is health assistance,” he said.

The bill defines aggravated homosexuality as cases of sex relations involving those infected with HIV, as well as minors and other categories of vulnerable people.

Prison terms of up to 20 years are proposed for those who advocate or promote the rights of lesbian, gay and bisexual people.

Criminals ‘simply for existing’

Someone convicted of “attempted aggravated homosexuality” can be jailed for 14 years and the offence of “attempted homosexuality” is punishable by up to 10 years, according to the bill.

Volker Turk, the UN high commissioner for human rights, said the bill was deeply troubling.

He 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.

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