A prominent leader of Uganda's LGBTQ community has described anguished calls by others like him who are concerned for their safety after the passing of a new anti-gay bill. A business group in Uganda, including corporate giants, says it opposes the country's anti-LGBTQ legislation, calling it a concern for global businesses and investors who are planning to invest in the East African country.
The legislation, which prescribes the death penalty or life imprisonment for some homosexual offenses, would hurt Uganda's economy, according to the Open For Business coalition. The statement said that diversity and inclusion are the core principles of our coalition partners in the conduct of their businesses.
The legislation, if signed into law by President Yoweri Museveni, would undermine Uganda's attractiveness as a place to invest and business, it said.
The group includes companies such as Microsoft, MasterCard, HSBC and Facebook owner Meta.
The anti-homosexuality bill was passed by Uganda's legislature last week. The legislation is now with Museveni, who can either sign it into law or return it to the National Assembly with proposed changes.
The bill has a lot of support in Uganda, including among church leaders. It was introduced last month by an opposition lawmaker who said his goal was to punish the promotion, recruitment and funding of LGBTQ activities in the country. Two of 389 legislators present in the voting session opposed the bill.
Museveni, who has publicly described homosexuals as disgusting, faces growing international condemnation of the bill. The United States, the United Nations and the European Union have urged him to block the bill. Washington warned of the possible economic consequences if the legislation is enacted.
The bill specifies the death penalty for aggravated homosexuality and life imprisonment for homosexuality, as well as a risk of criminal prosecution for those who identify as LGBTQ people. Aggravated homosexuality is defined as cases of sex relationships involving those infected with HIV as well as minors and other groups of vulnerable people. Jail terms of up to 20 years are proposed for those who advocate or promote the rights of LGBTQ people.
A person convicted of attempted aggravated homosexuality can be jailed for 14 years and the offense of attempted homosexuality can be punishable by up to 10 years, according to the bill.
A group of U.N. experts said Wednesday that the death penalty for some acts of homosexuality is an egregious violation of human rights.
The imposition of the death penalty based on such legislation is per se an arbitrary killing and a violation of Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights ICCPR, according to experts.
A Ugandan LGBTQ rights group says that many in the country's gay community fear for their safety.
Anti-gay sentiment in Uganda has risen in recent weeks after press reports alleging sodomy in boarding schools, including a prestigious one for boys, where a parent accused a teacher of abusing his son. The recent decision by the Church of England to bless civil marriages of same-sex couples has inflamed many, including some who see homosexuality as imported from abroad.
Homosexuality is criminalized in more than 30 of Africa's 54 countries.