The “anti-homosexuality 2023” law was promulgated on Monday May 29 by President Yoweri Museveni. In the country and beyond, there is outrage for human rights NGOs.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni signed into law Monday, May 29, a controversial anti-LGBT + law providing for heavy penalties for same-sex relations. In this East African country where homosexuality is already illegal, “acts of homosexuality” are punishable by life imprisonment since a law dating from British colonization.
The new law introduces the concept of aggravated homosexuality “. In other words, the sexual act between people of the same sex is now considered a crime punishable by death in case of recidivism. Another provision is of great concern to NGOs. According to the text, anyone – individual or organization – “ knowingly promotes homosexuality faces up to 20 years in prison. If it is an organization, it risks a ten-year ban. The President’s enactment of the law was first announced on Twitter by Speaker of Parliament Anita Among before being confirmed by her spokesperson Yoweri Museveni.
Outcry
The vote on the bill in Parliament on March 21 sparked an international outcry. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, denounced a ” discriminatory text – probably the worst in the world of its kind “. After the announcement by the Western partners of potential economic consequences if the law were promulgated as it stands, President Yoweri Museveni had asked Ugandan parliamentarians, at the end of April, to reconsider certain provisions. Thus, in the text adopted on Monday, there is no longer any question of criminalizing the mere fact of being homosexual, nor of denouncing the practices of one’s neighbor.
” Uganda’s President today legalized state-sponsored homophobia and transphobia “Reacted Clare Byarugaba, a Ugandan rights activist. ” This is a very dark and sad day for the LGBTIQ community, our allies and all of Uganda “, she added. In neighboring DRC, there is consternation for Jason Mukoko, a member of an LBGT rights organization in Kinshasa: “ the sister organizations there in Uganda will be forced to close. So what will be the fate of these LGBT people now? it really risks leading to arrests, and deaths, and deaths… It’s really a crime against humans. »
The risk is that the Congolese government will follow suit with the Ugandan government […] There have already been three proposed laws that criminalize homosexuality in the DRC
Veiled threats from Joe Biden
Like its first version, the text promulgated on Monday was condemned by the international community. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights said to itself ” appalled “to see this bill come into force” draconian and discriminatory », « contrary to the Constitution and international treaties “, which opens the way to ” systematic violations of the rights of LGBT people “. The head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borrell, spoke of a law ” deplorable ” And ” contrary to human rights ” in a press release, referring to relations ” compromised with Kampala. Former colonial power, the United Kingdom is appalled that the Ugandan government has signed the deeply discriminatory anti-homosexuality law according to a statement from Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Andrew Mitchell.
But the strongest reaction came from Washington. ” This is a tragic violation of universal human rights “, denounced Joe Biden. A moral condemnation which is probably addressed as much to the Ugandan people as to the voters of the American president, a year and a half before the next presidential election. They are sensitive to LGBT rights while some Republican politicians, like Florida Governor and presidential candidate Rone DeSantis push them back.
The tenant of the White House also denounces the cases of violence and discrimination since the introduction of the text. He warns of the consequences of this law. For him, it puts everyone residing in Uganda at risk, including US government personnel, but also tourists and those doing business there. Because it could also have economic consequences. Joe Biden therefore asks his national security council to study the implications of this law for relations between his country and Uganda. He cites in particular aid in the fight against AIDS or the partnerships linked to Agoa, the American law on opportunities and growth in Africa. Joe Biden finally recalls, in an implicit warning, that the American government invests almost a billion dollars a year in Uganda. For one of the MPs promoting the law, Uganda should therefore turn to new development partners, particularly in the Arab world.
“Am I not human?”
Uganda has been experiencing a rise in homophobia for several months. This is what prompted Andrew, like other queer people, to seek refuge in Kenya. In this cafe in downtown Nairobi, he tells our correspondent Albane Thirouard his path without shame. And with a smile despite the difficulties encountered. Attracted by men, he fled his country, Uganda, three months ago, when those around him discovered his sexual orientation.
” In Uganda, LGBT people are not tolerated at all. Everyone started to hate me, I will never forget those few days. I felt so ashamed, I was humiliated, I was insulted…I can’t go back to my country anymore. Some people there are convinced that as queer people, we will seek to supposedly “recruit” their children. They want to get rid of us, I know some who were killed like that! There is such injustice… Why are my rights not being respected? Am I not human? Yet I am! »
As an asylum seeker in Kenya, Andrew was referred to Kakuma refugee camp. But he refuses to go there, in particular because he fears for his safety. Amnesty International and a Kenyan NGO have just published a report in which they call ” extremely dangerous life in this camp for LGBT refugees. The two associations denounce homophobic acts against them. They point the finger in particular to harassment and physical attacks.
Instead, Andrew hopes to find refuge in a country where he can ” be himself “. Because in Kenya, even if convictions are rare, sexual relations between two men are still considered a crime in the penal code.
(And with agencies)