President Museveni to sign Anti-homosexuality Bill

Feb 24, 2014

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni will today sign the anti-homosexuality bill into law, government spokesman Ofwono Opondo has revealed

By Vision Reporter

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni will today sign the anti-homosexuality bill into law, deputy NRM spokesman Ofwono Opondo has revealed.

"The president is signing the anti-homosexuality bill today at 11. He wants to sign it with the full witness of the international media to demonstrate Uganda's independence in the face of Western pressure and provocation," Opondo told Reuters.

Parliament passed the Bill which proposes life imprisonment for homosexual acts on Dec 20, 2013.

A proposal for a 14-year-sentence for those convicted for homosexual acts, which the bill criminalises, was rejected by Members of Parliament who instead maintained the life imprisonment proposal.
 
However, Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi said there would be further “consultations” on part of the government.
A group of Ugandan scientists from Makerere University including Dr. Sylvester Onzivua – Senior Pathologist, Mulago Hospital,  Prof. Seggane Musisi – Professor of Psychiatry at Makerere, Assoc. Prof. Eugene Kinyanda – Senior Research Scientist, Medical Research Council, Dr. David Basangwa – Director, Butabika Hospital and Dr. Misaki Wayengera – Geneticist, Makerere, made a presentation to the NRM caucus two weeks ago.

The report revealed that there was no definitive gene responsible for homosexuality but that the practice was merely an abnormal behaviour which may be learned through experiences in life.

Additional reporting by Reuters

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