The Council for Global Equality joins human rights leaders in condemning the “Anti-Homosexuality” bill that was introduced in the Ugandan parliament in October 2009. The bill is undoubtedly one of the most homophobic pieces of legislation ever conceived. It would increase the penalty for consensual homosexual conduct from 14 years to life in prison. It would also limit the distribution of HIV information through a provision criminalizing the “promotion of homosexuality.” Beyond that, it creates a crime of “aggravated homosexuality,” punishing anyone who is HIV-positive with death for having consensual same-sex relations, even if the relations are informed and safe and regardless of whether the person is even aware of his or her HIV status. That provision alone is contrary to every scientifically-sound public health recommendation for reaching vulnerable HIV-positive communities with the prevention, care and treatment they so desperately deserve. The law also exposes anyone in Uganda, including HIV outreach experts, to a criminal sentence for not reporting to the government within 24-hours on anyone who engages in homosexual activity.
The Council has been in contact with senior officials in the State Department, the U.S. Embassy in Kampala and the National Security Council to express concern over the legislation and its potential to undermine our substantial U.S. investment in the country’s HIV/AIDS response. The U.S. Embassy in Uganda has condemned the proposal in clear and forceful terms.
A press release from a coalition of domestic and international human rights groups is available here . A copy of the legislation, as tabled in parliament, is available here . In addition, a letter from the U.S. Congress to Secretary of State Clinton expressing grave concern at the human rights implications of the bill and its impact on our global health investment in Uganda is available here , along with the State Department's response .
