Uganda: Anti-homosexuality bill to be reintroduced in parliament
The author of Uganda’s anti-gay law has given notice that he will reintroduce the bill during this parliamentary session.
The country’s Constitutional Court struck down the Anti-Homosexuality Act last month, 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.
However, MPs have rushed to attempt to put the law back into place, attempting to alter parliamentary regulations to allow it to be re-submitted.
The author of the original law, MP David Bahati, has now confirmed plans to re-submit the bill this parliamentary session.
According to KFM, Ugandan Deputy Speaker Jacob Oulanyah has received a notificaiton from Bahati, the Ndorwa West representative, that the bill will be re-introduced.
However, Mr MPs Oulanyah urged members to actually attend plenary sessions for the bill the second time around, to avoid further legal problems caused by lack of quorum.
The new version of the law is likely to tackle the “promotion” of homosexuality, after President Yoweri Museveni reportedly asked for an amendment to avoid targeting “consenting homosexuals”.
MP Medard Bitekyerezo said: “Our president is saying, there are some people who have opted to go into hotels and they’re sleeping together and they are adults, and they have consented.
“He says we shouldn’t tamper with them and we have also agreed.
“What we have put in this new law, we are saying, if adults have consented, period, there’s no problem. We shall not harass them.”
