Ugandan MP proposes that gays should be executed
A Ugandan MP has proposed that lawmakers should create a new crime of “aggravated homosexuality”, which would be punishable by death.
Ndorwa West MP David Bahati, of the ruling party, tabled the private member’s bill in parliament on Tuesday.
According to his bill, those convicted of having gay sex with disabled people and those under the 18 would face the death penalty.
The bill, titled the Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2009, would give the same punishment to anyone infected with HIV who has sex with someone of the same gender.
It also imposes life imprisonment on those who have homosexual sex. Although this is already the case in Uganda, the new law widens the definition of the offence.
Other offence include promoting homosexuality, aiding and abetting homosexuality and keeping a house “for purposes of homosexuality”.
Bahati said his bill would protect children, youths and the “traditional family”.
Human rights activists say Uganda, with a population of 31 million, has some 500,000 gays and lesbians.
Ugandan officials have previously blamed Europe and human rights groups for ‘spreading’ homosexuality.
President of Uganda Kaguta Yoweri Museveni and other officials have spoken out against gays on numerous occasions.
Mr Museveni spoke of his country’s “rejection” of homosexuality during a speech he gave at the wedding of a former MP’s daughter last year.
He said the purpose of life was to create children and that homosexuality was a “negative foreign culture.”
Earlier this year, a number of gay groups were accused of “recruiting” children into homosexuality by methods such as giving them pocket money.
It was reported that men describing themselves as born-again Christians were “confessing” to persuading children to become gay before finding God and “quitting” homosexuality.
