Uganda’s Parliament has today, May 02, 2023, passed the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, 2023, giving it another chance at presidential assent. The bill was passed after at least five amendments were made to clauses that the country’s 78-year-old long-serving leader found problematic based on the advice from Deputy Attorney General Jackson Kafuuzi and his senior, AG Kiryowa Kiwanuka.
Speaker Anita Annet Among, who doubles as the Bukedea District Woman MP, set the stage for the bill’s second chance this year. She called on MPs to “remain steadfast,” telling them that “no amount of intimidation will make us retract what we have done.”
Not even “handouts or small envelopes should not be the ones to destroy you,” she continued. “The Western World will not come and rule Uganda.” And when the bill was finally passed, for a second time. Speaker Among called on the AG to make sure that he quickly delivers it to the head of state and government for his nod.
It should be remembered that Parliament passed the bill on March 21 but Gen Museveni returned it for reconsideration. What followed the return of the bill was the review of the president’s concerns and suggestions. Museveni was particularly interested in the bill making a clear distinction between one being a homosexual and one taking part in acts of homosexuality so that the law criminalizes and punishes the action of engaging in homosexuality or promoting it instead of criminalizing and punishing one for having a deviant inclination or proclivity.
Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee Chairperson Robinah Rwakoojo described Museveni’s concerns as genuine. Rwakoojo emphasized: “The committee recommends that Clauses 2 and 3 be amended to create further clarity on the purpose and intention of the Bill, which is to criminalize sexual acts committed by persons of the same sex rather than punishing a person based on their perceived sexuality or physical appearance.”
Rwakoojo’s committee further suggested that two sub-clauses under Clause 9 of the Bill that are connected to property owners whose premises may be reported to be used to commit the offence of homosexuality be merged.
Museveni had was concerned by the constitutional challenges and contradictions that would be brought about by the proposals on the duty to report acts of homosexuality under Clause 14. The president had also predicted that this clause would be difficult to enforce.
His suggestions were that clause 14 either be deleted or changes be effected to the same with the view of limiting this to children and other vulnerable members of society as provided in Article 17(1)(c) of the Constitution.
In the end, the Rwakoojo committee recommended that “Clause 14 of the Bill [should] stand [as] part of the Bill albeit with amendment to Clause 9(3) to create criminal sanctions against a person who does not report acts of homosexuality that are committed against children and other vulnerable persons.”
Meanwhile, the House backed a suggestion by Erute County South MP Jonathan Odur to raise the jail term from six months to five years.
MINORITY REPORT COLLAPSES
West Budama North East MP Fox Odoi presented the minority report in which he called for the total deletion of the entire Anti-Homosexuality Bill. Odoi argued that Museveni’s suggestions were not enough to save the bill.
IF WE DIE WE DIE
A number of MPs rallied their colleagues not to fear the Western World, especially given reports that the US was pondering withdrawing PEPFAR funding for HIV/AIDS prevention and management such as ARVs for patients. “Have they been giving us that aid for purposes of promoting homosexuality in Uganda? Studies have shown that homosexuals are the ones spreading AIDS. Friends, do not be shy. You were born to be in Uganda and we will remain Africans,” junior minister in charge of sports, Peter Ogwang, said.
Nsaba Buturo, a former ethics and integrity minister (Bufumbira East – NRM), added: “What we steal from ourselves is three times more than what we get from these arrogant people around the world. I appeal to the President and government to tackle this issue of corruption because it is rendering us unable to stand for the interest for our people.”
You can read our thread on the war of words between Speaker Anita Among and Deputy Attorney General Jackson Kafuuzi who was being accused of misleading President Museveni into refusing to sign the bill into law Here.
Now, once again, all eyes return to the president to see if he will sign the bill into law. After that, Ugandans will be waiting to see how the US and other powers that offer billions in support to the country will react. Towards the end of last month, the US government revealed a plan to stop funding for Uganda’s HIV/AIDS patients’ ARVs if Museveni signs the Anti-Homosexuality Bill into law. (See Details Here).
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