Concern and indignation. Uganda, an East African country, promulgated an "anti-homosexuality" law on Monday, May 29. The latter, approved by the head of state, Yoweri Museveni, provides for heavier sentences and thus attracts the wrath of part of the international community, from local NGOs to the White House.
The head of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Volker Türk, said Monday he was "appalled" to see the draft law, "probably the worst of its kind in the world", enter into force. He went on to call it "draconian and discriminatory," "contrary to the Constitution and international treaties," which paves the way for "systematic violations of LGBT rights."
As for US President Joe Biden, denouncing a "tragic attack" on human rights, he is studying the consequences of this law on "all aspects of cooperation between the United States and Uganda", including aid and investment, according to a statement from the White House. "Uganda's failure to protect the rights of LGBTQI+ people is part of a broader deterioration in human rights protection" in the country, said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who referred to visa restrictions.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called the law "deplorable" and "contrary to human rights" in a statement, citing "compromised" relations with Kampala. Former colonial power, the United Kingdom "is appalled that the Ugandan government has signed the deeply discriminatory anti-homosexuality law," according to a statement from Foreign Secretary Andrew Mitchell.
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An NGO announced that it had petitioned Uganda's High Court over the "blatantly unconstitutional" law. The criminalization of activities between consenting adult homosexuals "runs counter to key provisions of the Constitution, including the right to equality and non-discrimination," said Adrian Jjuuko, executive director of the Human Rights Awareness and Promotion Forum (HRAPF).
Capital crime
The text had been amended marginally by parliamentarians, at the request of President Museveni. The elected officials had clarified that being homosexual was not a crime, but that same-sex sexual relations were. In Uganda, where homosexuality is illegal, "acts of homosexuality" are punishable by life imprisonment under a law dating back to British colonization.
Parliamentarians maintained a provision making "aggravated homosexuality" a capital crime, meaning repeat offenders could be sentenced to death. However, the death penalty has not been applied there for years.
The executive director of Sexual Minorities Uganda, a gay rights organization, whose activities were suspended by the authorities last year, fears "mob justice and mass arrests". The law enjoys broad popular support and opposition reactions have been rare in the country, ruled with an iron fist since 1986 by Yoweri Museveni.
