Ugandan Archbishop: Parliament should pass another anti-gay law
The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda has called on the country’s parliament to re-approve an anti-gay law that was struck down by a court last week.
Last week, the country’s Constitutional Court struck down the country’s Anti-Homosexuality Act, finding that the speaker of Parliament acted illegally by moving ahead with a vote on the law despite at least three lawmakers objecting to a lack of quorum.
Archbishop Stanley Ntagali said the court’s decision was a disappointment, and that Parliament should rush to restore the law.
The ruling effectively killed the law in its current iteration, but there is nothing to stop Parliament from passing a near-identical bill to restore the provisions.
He said: “The court of public opinion has clearly indicated its support for the Act, and we urge Parliament to consider voting again on the Bill with the proper quorum in place.
“We also hope that Parliament will take this opportunity to make clear the parts of the Bill that were ambiguous and difficult to enforce.
“I appeal to all God-fearing people and all Ugandans to remain committed to the support against homosexuality, which is contrary to God’s order, until the law protects our families, the youth and children of our country.”
Homosexuality is still criminalised in Uganda despite the ruling, but some of the harsh sentences included in the law cannot currently be imposed.
