Uganda vote in 12 hours

Uganda vote in 12 hours

The Ugandan Parliament may vote on the Anti-Homosexuality Bill in the next 12 hours.

The bill looked to have been shelved at the end of March after a parliamentary committee found that most of the things covered in the bill were already outlawed in existing legislation.

But backers of the bill have made a renewed push in the dying days of the current Parliamentary session, and are expected to drop a death penalty clause from the bill in an effort to have it passed.

The bill would still make entering into or attendance at a same-sex marriage a crime for Ugandans, criminalise all forms of depiction of, and support for, gays and lesbians and compel Ugandans to denounce any gay or lesbian person they became aware of to police.

Some Ugandan activists have suggested the bill has been brought back to distract the public from ongoing protests over high petrol and food prices which have been attacked by police.

During the protests the country’s main opposition leader, Kizza Besigye, was dragged from his car by security operatives and doused with tear gas and pepper spray.

Besigye, who opposes the criminalisation of homosexuality, was taken to hospital in neighbouring Kenya, and is now camped out in Jomo Kenyatta International Airport after he was told by Kenyan airlines that he would not be able to board his flight as Ugandan authorities would not allow him back into the country.

Uganda’s current president, Yoweri Museveni, has been in power for over 25 years, and opposition parties have made repeated claims of election rigging.

Museveni has announced plans to change Uganda’s constitution to make it mandatory for people suspected of rioting or “disturbing the nation’s economy” to be held for 180 days without trial.

International human rights groups have organised a petition campaign against the bill.

Readers can sign a petition HERE

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4 responses to “Uganda vote in 12 hours”

  1. Such indecent act should never be granted.
    Let not greediness of money take over your common sense.
    Wake up.

  2. Such Blatant Ignorance and Scare Tactics, STOP THIS NOW!!! xxx