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Nick Clegg: Uganda’s anti-gay law is an abhorrent backwards step

Feb 24 2014
Written by Joseph McCormick

Illustrated rainbow pride flag on a pink background.

The British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has tweeted his strong opposition to Uganda’s anti-gay law, as the country’s President signed it into law today.

President Yoweri Museveni signed the bill in front of politicians and reporters on Monday at 1.54pm (10.54am GMT) at State House, his official residence in Entebbe.

It further criminalises homosexuality in the country, implementing life jail sentences for those convicted multiple times.

Mr Clegg tweeted: “The Ugandan anti-gay law is an abhorrent backwards step for human rights. It should never be a crime to be LGBT.”

The Ugandan anti-gay law is an abhorrent backwards step for human rights. It should never be a crime to be LGBT.

— Nick Clegg (@nick_clegg) February 24, 2014

Mr Clegg joins EU foreign policy chief Baroness Ashton, who condemned the President of Uganda and, describing the move as “draconian”.

In December last year, Uganda’s Parliament passed legislation to toughen the punishment for same-sex sexual activity.

However, President Museveni last week signalled that he was ready to sign the draconian bill earlier this month.

US President Barack Obama also warned him against doing so.

The new law punishes first-time offenders with 14 years in jail, and allows life imprisonment as the penalty for acts of “aggravated homosexuality”.

It also makes it a crime not to report gay people to the authorities. Lesbians are covered by the bill for the first time.