蜜芽传媒

People who identify as gay in Uganda risk life in prison after parliament passed a new bill cracking down on homosexuality.

It also includes the death penalty in certain cases.

A rights activist told the 蜜芽传媒 the debate around the bill had led to fear of more attacks and targeting of homosexual people: "There is a lot of blackmail. People are receiving calls that 'if you don't give me money, I will report that you are gay,'" they said.

The bill is one of the toughest pieces of anti-gay legislation in Africa.

Homosexual acts are already illegal in Uganda but this bill introduces many new criminal offences.

As well as making merely identifying as gay illegal for the first time, friends, family and members of the community would have a duty to report individuals in same-sex relationships to the authorities.

It was passed with widespread support in Uganda's parliament on Tuesday evening.

The bill will now go to President Yoweri Museveni who can choose to use his veto - and maintain good relations with Western donors and investors - or sign it into law.

He has made several anti-gay comments in recent weeks, and also criticised Western countries for putting pressure on Uganda over the issue.

For more, Newshour's James Menendez spoke to Sarah Kasande, a Kampala-based lawyer and human rights activist -- she's the Uganda representative of the International Center for Transnational Justice.

Photo shows: Member of Parliament from Bubulo contituency John Musira dressed in an anti gay gown attends the debate of the Anti-Homosexuality bill inside the chambers, which proposes tough new penalties for same-sex relations during a sitting at the Parliament buildings in Kampala, Uganda March 21, 2023. Credit: Reuters

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