The death penalty has been dropped from Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Bill, with the life imprisonment now to be the punishment for "aggravated homosexuality". MP Medard Segona from the Legal and Parliamentary committee of Uganda's parliament has confirmed to BBC substantial amendments have been made. "I can confirm it has been dropped," he says of the death penalty provision, which there had been differing reports about. "Some of us who are human rights activists would discourage the death penalty." Homosexual acts are already illegal in Uganda, but this bill would introduce harsher penalties. Those convicted of "aggravated homosexuality", which is defined as when one of the participants is a minor, HIV-positive, disabled or a "serial offender", could be jailed for life. The original bill also prohibited the "promotion" of gay rights and called for the punishment of anyone who "funds or sponsors homosexuality" or "abets homosexuality". Speaker of parliament Rebecca Kadaga recently said the bill would be passed as a "Christmas gift" to its advocates. The next step is a debate in parliament. President Yoweri Museveni would have to sign it before it comes law, and faces powerful international pressure to use his veto power. International donors have threatened to cut off aid to Uganda if the country does not do more to protect the rights of gay people and US President Barack Obama has described the bill as "odious".
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Saturday, 24th November 2012 - 12:42pm