Uganda’s Harsh ‘Anti-Homosexuality’ Bill Passes in Parliament

BY TCR STAFF March 27, 2023

Uganda’s parliament has passed one of the world’s most draconian anti-LGBTQ bills. The Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2023 would criminalize “the offense of homosexuality” and impose tough penalties against those who identify as LGBTQ+, including life imprisonment for some offenses, Emma Ogao reports for ABC News. This would also include landlords and property owners, who could face prosecution through penalties or imprisonment if their premises are used for “homosexual acts.” In response to the bill’s passing, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said it was “deeply disturbing” and threatened to erode years of progress made in Uganda.  In a White House press briefing, National Security Council coordinator John Kirby and Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the African nation could face repercussions if the law is enacted.

The United States is a large aid supporter of the former British colony, giving more than  $950 million annually, making Uganda one of the top receivers of U.S security assistance in Africa. Homosexuality was already illegal in Uganda before this bill came to the Ugandan parliament with homosexuality being illegal in over 30 African countries. LGBTQ advocates in the region plan to challenge the bill in court if signed into law.

“The late Archbishop Desmond Tutu spoke about how pernicious and ghastly it is that people are penalized and killed simply and solely on the basis of their sexual orientation and called on us to all oppose this injustice,” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said. “I would like to renew his plea today.”