The government of Uganda has denied that it intends to reintroduce the contentious anti-gay Bill which was struck out by the court.
The Bill initially spelled a death sentence for culprits found practicing gay sex, which the President referred to as un-nurtured sex.
In a statement from the Presidency, line minister Esther Mbayo affirmed that the government said that no Ugandan life is in danger over their sexual orientation.
“On the allegations that members of the minority communities have been murdered, I would like to assert that the protection of human life is enshrined in the constitution of the Republic of Uganda and the laws therefrom,” the statement seen Friday reads.
Mbayo says that the government has robust security systems from national level up to the grassroots.
“Such cases should be promptly reported to police, investigated and proprietors brought to book.”
In her additional statement, the minister called upon gays to report anyone harassing them or abusing their rights to police.
“I would therefore like to appeal to all persons in Uganda including the minority communities to take advantage of the existing security systems to report any form of harassment or abuse of their rights.”
The move to retable Bill
Last week, the minister of Ethics and Integrity Rev Fr Simon Lokodo said the government planned to reintroduce the anti-homosexuality Bill on the floor of parliament.
“Homosexuality is not natural to Ugandans, but there has been massive recruitment by gay people in schools, and especially among the youth, where they are promoting the falsehood that people are born like that,” Lokodo said.
“We want it made clear that anyone who is even involved in promotion and recruitment has to be criminalised. Those that do grave acts will be given the death sentence,” Lokodo added.
The minister said the anti-gay Bill would be reintroduced and voted on in parliament sparking rumors that a legislator was granted leave to table the Bill.
Pressure mounts
Following Lokodo’s statements government was put on pressure by foreign donors including the US which insisted that they stand with the Ugandan LGBT community and would stand for the defence of rights and dignity of all citizens.
Other donors like the European Union vowed to freeze aid to Uganda citing that human rights are of ‘highest importance’ to them.
Officials from the World Bank also claimed they would be prompted into ‘action’ if the law is passed again. It should be noted that in 2014, the World Bank halted a $90m loan to Uganda for passing the Anti-gay Bill.
Following the threats from donors, the Uganda government has been forced to backtrack on their decisions and any form of preparations to retable the Bill.
