The United States threatens to freeze aid and investments in the country if the law is not repealed.
President of Uganda Yoweri Museveni on Monday approved the controversial anti-homosexuality law, which has been fiercely criticized by the United States, the European Union and human rights organizations, among others.
At the request of the president, the Ugandan parliament softened the bill before the president’s assent so that identifying as homosexual is not a crime. Instead, engaging in homosexual acts remained a crime punishable by up to life imprisonment.
The president would also have liked the bill to remove the mention of the death penalty for those who have repeatedly committed homosexual acts, but the parliament did not agree to this.
Uganda has not carried out any death penalty for years.
– This is a very dark and sad day for the LGBTQ community, our allies and all of Uganda, said a Ugandan human rights activist Clare Byarugaba.
Biden demands the immediate repeal of the law and threatens sanctions
President of the United States Joe Biden said on Monday that he considered Uganda’s new law a serious violation of human rights. Biden threatens that the United States will cut off aid and investments in the East African country.
He demanded the immediate repeal of the new laws.
– Enacting a law against homosexuality in Uganda is a tragic violation of universal human rights, Biden said in a statement.
– No one should have to constantly fear for their life or being the target of violence and discrimination. It is wrong, he continued.
The president says he has asked the National Security Council to assess what the law means in all aspects of US activities in Uganda, including AIDS aid and other forms of aid and investment.
He said his administration is also considering imposing sanctions on Uganda and barring entry to the United States of people involved in human rights abuses and corruption.