Uganda has one of the toughest anti-gay laws in the world. Now, for the first time, someone has been charged with “serious homosexuality”. He faces the death penalty.
On May 29, the “Anti-Homosexuality Law 2023” was signed by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni. The law carries a sentence of up to life imprisonment for same-sex sexual activity. Under the law, just attempting same-sex sexual activity can be punished with up to ten years in prison. The law also allows for the death penalty.
Now the first person in Uganda has been charged with “serious homosexuality”. According to media reports, the 20-year-old faces the death penalty. The man is charged with having “an illegal sexual relationship with a 41-year-old adult man,” according to the indictment, which AFP news agency was able to see.
Uganda: International criticism and protests
The anti-homosexual law was already met with a lot of criticism when it was signed in May. At that time, the German Foreign Ministry commented on Twitter and said that the law would enshrine the “blatant violation” of human rights. It must be withdrawn. And German Development Minister Svenja Schulze publicly condemned the law. “The anti-homosexual law in Uganda violates basic human rights to which Uganda has committed itself and which are enshrined in the charter of the African Union,” explained the SPD politician. “Same-sex love is not a crime.”
At the beginning of August, the World Bank declared that it would no longer grant loans to Uganda because the law “fundamentally violates the values of the World Bank”. And although President Yoweri Museveni affirmed in a five-page public letter that Uganda would develop even without loans, there are critical voices from the country. MP Karim Masaba, who sits on the Finance Committee, is concerned about the World Bank’s action. He told DW: “We should be prepared for the worst.” Because the World Bank is actually the central donor for Uganda.
However, Uganda is far from the only country where homosexuality is a criminal offense. According to the Life and Gay Association (LSV), there are a total of 66 states in which homosexuality is prosecuted. The death penalty can be imposed in 12 of these countries. Iran, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and Yemen also partially implement the death penalty. If the man is indeed sentenced to death in Uganda, Uganda will also be included in this list.
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Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
