Uganda Has Passed A Law That Jails People For Life And Even Sentences Them To Prison For Having Gay Sex
The law is one of the world’s harshest anti-LGBTQ laws.
Uganda has passed a law that jails people for life – and in some cases, sentences them to death – for having gay sex.
Homosexuality is already illegal in Uganda, but the law further cracks down on being LGBTQ in the deeply conservative and religious country.
Under the law, people who have gay sex would face life imprisonment and just attempting same-sex relations could result in seven years in prison.
People who commit “aggravated homosexuality”, which involves having gay sex while being HIV positive or with people under the age of 18, could face the death penalty.
People under 18 who are found to be LGBTQ could be jailed for three years and have to undergo a period of “rehabilitation”.
Friends, family and members of the community also have a duty to report people in same-sex relationships to the authorities.
Not only that, people who “promote” homosexuality could be jailed for 20 years.
In April, President Yoweri Museveni sent the bill back to parliament for reconsideration.
But he still approved it on Monday May 29 after lawmakers amended it to ensure people who were suspected of being LGBTQ would only be punished if they engaged in same-sex relations.
The law is one of the world’s harshest anti-LGBTQ laws.
