Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2023: Is this the harshest law yet?
By Vennisa Owusu-Barfi
The Ugandan Parliament has passed one of the harshest and oppressive LGBT laws in the world. With same-sex relations already illegal and punishable by life imprisonment, this move has been described as a further crackdown on LGBT individuals by Human Rights activists.
Source: www.npr.org
In this new Anti-Homosexuality Bill, engaging in same-sex relations is criminalized and punishable by death, and identifying or supporting LGBT individuals risks up to 20 years in prison.
Many activists have pointed out that these laws essentially strip LGBT individuals of their freedoms of expression, life and liberty, as well as create an atmosphere of fear and blackmail. According to the BBC, the fear of being reported, regardless of identity, has led to an uptick of blackmail in the country due to how repressive the laws are. Since it targets the identity or supposed identity of individuals, it is a direct violation of their human rights and dignity.
Source: www.pbs.org
The bill however, was passed with majority support in the Ugandan government and represents a shift towards larger hostility towards LGBT Ugandans by politicians and religious leaders. Other leaders however find the laws redundant and decry the government’s attempts to divert public attention from real and pressing issues affecting Ugandan people. Many activists and political leaders are currently working to repeal this in court.
www.france24.com
With half of the Ugandan population living below the global poverty line (less than $1.90 a day) and only 48% currently employed, many Ugandan leaders and activists are calling on the government to focus on real issues affecting Ugandans. Although Uganda has one of the fastest growing economies in the world, it deals with some of the highest levels of corruption and economic inequality globally.
To read more on this bill, here are a few links: