The Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2023 has been passed by Parliament on Tuesday, March 21st, during a plenary sitting that met quorum with 389 MPS joining both physically and virtually.
Time check: 20:22 East African Standard Time, the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, 2023, was passed and now awaits President Yoweri Museveni to assent into law.
“Whatever we are doing, we are doing for the people of Uganda.We will always legislate for our people.That is what the 389 members of parliament have done today,” says Speaker Annet Anita Among.
On Tuesday, the bill that seeks to criminalize homosexuality in Uganda was presented for the second and third reading in parliament during a plenary session that attracted a record-breaking, full attendance.
Before voting in favor of the bill, several MPs condemned homosexuality and proposed tough punishment for anyone found engaging in it.
MP Sarah Achieng Opendi insisted that life imprisonment isn’t a heavy punishment for anyone getting engaged in homosexuality, but such a person must be castrated.
“Where somebody has gotten your child into homosexuality, life imprisonment is not adequate since the person can go to prison and continue with life—or maybe even homosexuality.The amendment I’m proposing is that these people should be castrated,” MP Sarah Opendi emphasised.
“Hon. Speaker, when I look at you and the honorable ladies in this house, there is no reason for a man to run for a man for sex,” said MP Onen Charles.
MP Fox Odoi condemned the bill, describing it as unlawful and saying it contravenes existing laws of the land.
“The Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2023 contravenes established international and regional human rights standards as it unfairly limits the fundamental rights of LGBTIQ persons,” MP Odoi argued.
According to him, this criminalization also denies them equal protection under the law, owing to the harsh differential treatment they receive based on their sexual orientation and the criminalization of the same.