Uganda: NPWJ and NRPTT firmly condemn promulgation of Anti-Homosexuality Bill

On 24 February 2014, the President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, signed into law the controversial Anti-Homosexuality Bill, passed by the Ugandan Parliament on 20 December 2013. While homosexual acts are already illegal in Uganda, this new law provides for harsher penalties for consensual sexual activity between adults of the same sex, including life imprisonment for acts of “aggravated homosexuality” and a penalty of seven years  for those “promoting homosexuality”. The original Bill proposed the death penalty for some homosexual acts, but that was dropped amid international criticism.
 
Statement by Niccolò Figà-Talamanca, Secretary-General of No Peace Without Justice:
 
“No Peace Without Justice (NPWJ) and the Nonviolent Radical Party, Transnational and Transparty (NRPTT) strongly condemn the promulgation of this highly damaging law, which marks a dramatic step backward in Uganda’s history with its blatant assault against the human rights of all Ugandans.
 
“The new law will further institutionalise hatred and discrimination against a particular group of citizens on the grounds of their sexual orientation. It also violates internationally protected rights to freedom of association and expression. Under its provisions, healthcare professionals and human rights advocates risk being targeted and facing criminal sanctions for “aiding and abetting homosexuality”. It will inevitably incite public persecution and violence against Ugandan LGBTI people, which could easily turn into a witch-hunt destroying the lives and families of countless Ugandan men and women.
 
“Since the Bill was proposed, the country experienced an increase in homophobic arrests and mob violence. Following President Musuveni’s promulgation of the law, the Uganda tabloid “Red Pepper” has published a list outing the names - and some pictures - of alleged homosexuals in a front-page story under the headline: “EXPOSED!”. This shameful publication recalls a similar list published in 2010 by the now-defunct tabloid “Rolling Stone” that called for the execution of gays. Our friend and prominent Ugandan gay activist, David Kato, was killed not long after that list came out. We are still waiting for justice for his death.
 
“Instead of nurturing State-sanctioned homophobia, the Ugandan authorities should ensure the protection of human rights of all its citizens, which is entrusted to their authority, and uphold the Ugandan Constitution as well as the major Human Rights International and Regional Instruments to which Uganda is a signatory. NPWJ and the NRPTT stand in solidarity with LGBTI people in Uganda and call on the international community to condemn this serious infringement on human rights strongly and unequivocally and take promptly all necessary measures to support and ensure the protection of LGBTI persons in Uganda, before any further physical harm is inflicted.”
 
For more information, contact Nicola Giovannini, email: ngiovannini@npwj.org, phone: +32 2 548 39 15.