Protesters against a planned anti-homosexuality bill in front of the Ugandan Mission to the U.N. in New York on November 19. Photo credit: cnn.com
Local organisation United and Strong has joined numerous human rights groups across the world in speaking against a recent anti-gay law passed in Uganda, which renders anyone who commits acts of homosexuality liable to serve life in imprisonment.
United and Strong, in a statement, said it was outraged with the enactment of what it considered a draconian law, and calls for the repeal of it.
The Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Act, 2014, which was previously called the “Kill the Gays Bill” since it carried the death penalty, was signed into law on February 24, 2014. It was first submitted by Uganda Member of Parliament David Bahati on October 114, 2009, and was passed by the parliament on December 20, 2013, with the death penalty proposal dropped and replaced by life in prison.
The law states that acts of “aggravated homosexuality” will be punished by life imprisonment. It also criminalises the “promotion” of homosexuality”, where activists encourage others to come out, according to BBC News.
“It is appalling that in this century, rights are trampled on with very little concern for human life and the very fundamentals constitutions are built on. Such a bill threatens the protection of human rights and is a major set-back in addressing HIV/AIDS in a non-discriminatory manner. The government has failed to protect citizens from discrimination, stigmatization and risk of violence but has rather legalized discrimination detention, attack by police, torture, violence and even murder,” United and Strong said in its statement.
“We stand in solidarity with our comrades during this very tense and frightening time,” the group added in its brief statement.