Uganda: Anti-homosexuality bill is re-tabled in Uganda
A bill which institutionalizes discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people has been re-tabled in the Ugandan Parliament. It could be debated and passed into law in the next month.
UA: 40/12 Index: AFR 59/001/2012 Uganda Date: 17 February 2012
URGENT ACTION
ANTI-HOMOSEXUALITY BILL IS RE-TABLED IN UGANDA
A bill which institutionalizes discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender people has been re-tabled in the Ugandan Parliament. It could be debated
and passed into law in the next month.
On 7 February 2012, the Anti-Homosexuality Bill was re-tabled in the Parliament of Uganda. The Bill had previously
lapsed with the dissolution of the previous Parliament in May 2011.
The Speaker announced that as the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee had already issued a report on the
Bill in May 2011, the Committee could decide that the Bill should proceed straight to its Second Reading. This sets
the stage for legislative debate and possible passage into law within days. If the Bill is passed, it must still be
signed by the President in order to become law.
The Ugandan Penal Code already prohibits consensual sex between individuals of the same sex, however, the Bill
goes much further. As it stands, the Bill introduces the death penalty for the offence of “aggravated homosexuality”.
It also punishes those who do not report violations of the Bill’s provisions within 24 hours, and criminalizes the
“promotion” of homosexuality. The Bill would have lasting, harmful effects on Ugandans who are thought to breach
its far-reaching provisions. It would significantly hamper the work of human rights defenders and public health
professionals. Although Amnesty International has been informed that some provisions of the Bill may be
amended, the content of these amendments remains unclear.
The re-tabling of the Bill comes at a time of reduced space for enjoyment of human rights in Uganda. Since the
general elections in February 2011, a blanket ban has been in place against all forms of public assembly and
peaceful demonstration on the grounds of ensuring public security.
If passed, the Bill would violate the principle of non-discrimination and would lead to violations of the human rights
to freedom of expression, freedom of thought, conscience and religion, freedom of peaceful assembly, freedom of
association, liberty and security of the person, privacy, the highest attainable standard of health, and life. These
rights are guaranteed under Uganda’s Constitution and in international and regional treaties to which Uganda is a
party, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in English or your own language:
Urge the Ugandan Parliament not to pass the bill in its current or amended form.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 2 APRIL 2012 TO:
Prime Minister and Leader of
Government Business in the Parliament of
Uganda
Rt. Hon. Amama Mbabazi
Office of the Prime Minister
P.O. Box 341, Kampala, Uganda
E-mail: opm@imul.com
Salutation: Honourable Prime Minister
Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament
of Uganda
Hon. Nandala Mafabi
Parliament of Uganda
P.O Box 7178, Kampala, Uganda
E-mail: nandala@parliament.go.ug
Salutation: Honourable Member of
Parliament and Leader of the Opposition,
And copies to:
President of the Republic of Uganda
H.E. Kaguta Yoweri Museveni
Office of the President
P.O Box 7168, Kampala, Uganda
E-mail: secretary@op.go.ug
Fax: +256 414 346102
Salutation: Your Excellency
Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country.
Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date.
URGENT ACTION
ANTI-HOMOSEXUALITY BILL IS RE-TABLED IN UGANDA
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Anti-Homosexuality Bill formally lapsed when the eighth Parliament (the previous Parliament) completed its business on 13
May 2011 without having discussed the bill.
Amnesty International and other human rights organizations have documented instances of discrimination, arbitrary arrests,
detention, torture and other ill-treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Uganda. These human
rights violations have been committed using the pretext of enforcing existing provisions of the Ugandan penal code. LGBT
people have also been excluded from government HIV/AIDS prevention programmes and the provision of other health services.
This bill has the potential to further perpetuate and institutionalize such discrimination. In addition, if enacted into law, this bill
would send a clear message that people who target LGBT people solely on the basis of their actual or perceived sexual
orientation or gender identity will not be held accountable.
Name: n/a
Gender m/f: n/a
UA: 40/12 Index: AFR 59/001/2012 Issue Date: 17 February 2012