Uganda set to make homosexuality punishable by death

While homosexual acts are already illegal in the African nation of Uganda, a new law being discussed would attach a minimum sentence of life in prison for such acts, and practitioners of homosexuality could be given the death sentence.

The Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2009, is getting heavy support from Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, was first read on the Parliament floor in late October. According to the gay issues blog Queerty, Joann Lockard, public affairs officer at the Kampala, Uganda embassy, said the law would "constitute a significant step backwards for the protection of human rights in Uganda." Specifically, the new law would sentence anyone to death who had gay sex with a partner who had a disability, or while they were HIV positive, or if their partner was under the age of 18. Perhaps the section of the bill that has drawn the most fire is a provision that members of the public are required to report any homosexual activity they witness to police within 24 hours or face the a prison sentence of up tp three years. According to the Guardian U.K. The push for harsher punishments has come mostly from American evangelists Scott Lively, Don Schmierer and Caleb Lee Brundidge. Lively is a noted anti-gay activist and president of Defend the Family International, a conservative Christian association, while Schmierer is an author who works with “homosexual recovery groups”. Brundidge is a “sexual reorientation coach” at the International Healing Foundation. They have pushed stories onto Ugandan officials of European gays "recruiting" men and women from Uganda; and that homosexuality can be cured. James Nsaba Buturo, the minister of state for ethics and integrity, told the Guardian the Ugandan government was determined to pass the legislation, before the end of 2009. Butoro said they would pass the legislation even if it meant they would have to withdraw from international treaties and conventions such as the UN's Universal Declaration on Human Rights. Doing so would cut off funding from various organizations "We are talking about anal sex. Not even animals do that," Butoro said, adding that he was personally caring for six "former homosexuals" who had been traumatized by the experience. "We believe there are limits to human rights."