The Prime Minister of Uganda, Amama Mbabazi believes homosexuality is an abnormal situation that requires a gradual rather than a radical approach.
This comes after the MPs requested President Yoweri Museveni to assent the Bill quickly so that it becomes a law.
The Anti-Homosexuality Bill which was passed on December 20 by the Parliament of Uganda proposes a life sentence for certain homosexual acts.
Mbabazi has said the NRM caucus will first analysis discuss the bill extensively before it is assented into a law by the President.
Speaking to the journalists on Monday, Mbabazi said bill was not only sneaked into the House but also required wider consultations because homosexuality is not a new phenomenon in Uganda.
“Homosexuality is as old as human existence. It is mentioned in the bible and has been in our society for a long time,” said Mbabazi.
Mbabazi who is opposed to the passing of the bill believes homosexuality is an abnormal situation and should not be treated as a crime.
“Homosexuality is treated as an abnormality,” he said, adding, “I am not a supporter of homosexuality by the way.”
He said the NRM caucus will meet to decide on what should be done with the anti-gay bill.
Since the bill was passed by the Parliament in December, human rights activists and gay activists have strongly condemned the bill.
Uganda’s ambassador to Canada Alintuma Nsambu says sections of the population there have started mobilizing against Ugandans.
However, some human rights activists in Uganda have supported President Yoweri Museveni’s resolve to study the Anti-Homosexuality bill before assenting to it.
NGO Forum Executive Director, Richard Ssewakiryanga and Uhuru Institute’s Leonard Okello say the bill has sections that violate human rights and needs further study.
President Museveni last month said as far as his position on the anti-gay bill is concerned, he will first study the bill and then present it to the NRM caucus to map out the way forward.
“I like thinking before acting. It is not a simple matter to rush into. If the MPs’ bring the bill to me I will first analyze it, take it to the NRM caucus and see how to handle it,” Museveni said.
This controversial anti-gay bill has been criticized since the Parliament passed it. Some Ugandans have raised concerns that donor aid could be restricted if the bill is signed into law.
The US President Barack Obama called it “odious”.
UK businessman, Richard Branson also last week called on companies and tourists to boycott Uganda against approving the anti-gay bill which intends to toughen the punishment for homosexual acts.
This Act prohibits any form of sexual relations between persons of the same sex; prohibit the promotion.
It is a legislative proposal that would broaden the criminalisation of same-sex relations in Uganda domestically, and further includes provisions for Ugandans who engage in same-sex relations outside of Uganda, asserting that they may be extradicted for punishment back to Uganda, and includes penalties for individuals, companies, media organisations, or non-governmental organisations that know of gay people or support LGBT rights.
