President Museveni has assented to the Anti-Homosexuality Invoice 2023.
It now turns into the Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023.
Parliament handed the Anti-Homosexuality Invoice, 2023 firstly of this month with amendments to 5 clauses following proposals by President Museveni.
The Invoice was first handed 21 March 2023 however was returned by the President.
The Committee on Authorized and Parliamentary Affairs reviewed the issues and proposals made by the President relating to distinguishing between being a gay and really partaking in acts of homosexuality.
The President stated the legislation ought to be clear in order that what’s being criminalized will not be the state of 1 having a deviant proclivity however moderately the actions of 1 appearing on the deviance or selling the identical.
The Committee Chairperson, Hon. Robina Rwakoojo, stated the President’s issues had been real and had been initially expressed by the committee in its report back to the Home.
The committee additionally beneficial the merging of two sub-clauses beneath Clause 9 of the Invoice that pertains to homeowners of premises which may be reported for use to commit the offence of homosexuality.
On the responsibility to report acts of homosexuality beneath Clause 14, the President expressed concern that the clause introduced constitutional challenges and created pointless contradictions and duties which pose implementation challenges and conflicts in society.
The President beneficial for deletion of clause 14 or within the different, to redraft it to limit it to youngsters and different weak members of society as required in Article 17(1)(c) of the Structure.
The committee, nevertheless, stated clause 14 is related as a result of it imposes an obligation on an individual who is aware of or has an affordable suspicion that an individual, has dedicated or intends to commit the offence of homosexuality, to report the matter to police for applicable motion.
The Home handed a proposal by Hon. Jonathan Odur (UPC, Erute County South) on Clause to extend the imprisonment penalty from six months to 5 years.
A proposal by Hon. Fox Odoi (NRM, West Budama North East County) to delete the clauses cited by the President and subsequently, reject the whole Invoice was rejected by MPs.
