UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima has said that the anti-gay bill belongs in the dustbin and should not be given priority by President Museveni.
Byanyima, who met Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka at the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs on May 9, 2023, re-emphasized her stand on the said bill, claiming it is not good for Ugandans and will water down all the steps Uganda has taken in fighting HIV/AIDS.
According to Byanyima, who expressed strong reservations about the bill by putting forward arguments that it is not necessary because it will impact negatively on gains Uganda has made in the fight against AIDS, that some citizens have children who belong to LGBTQI communities, and that Uganda has enough laws, making the bill unnecessary,
“UNAIDS has warned that the anti-homosexuality act may reverse gains and increase human rights violations against LGBTQI and our own children, so I urge the AG to analyze the ACT well and advise the government. We must not forget that they are also human beings; we should not discriminate against our own children,” said Byanyima.
However, according to the AG, the bill was a reflection of the sentiments of Ugandans as expressed through their elected representatives, who legislated on this matter specifically to address the changing societal challenges in order to criminalize aspects that weren’t covered by the existing laws.
“For example, to discourage the deliberate recruitment of minors and protect them,” the AG stated.
He further emphasized that the bill does not in any way stop any individual or organization from extending HIV and AIDS services to any person.
Uganda’s parliament passed the anti-homosexuality bill very determinedly, sending a clear message to the US, European Union, and western world that homosexuality will not be forced on Ugandans.