On May 26, 2023, the Anti-Homosexuality Act was signed into law by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, one of the most extreme pieces of anti-LGBTQI+ legislation in the world. Consensual same-sex intimacy bears a penalty of life in prison. In addition, Section 14 of the Act, “Duty to report acts of homosexuality”, necessitates civilians report on each other; fining or imprisoning those that fail to do so. Those found guilty of repeated offenses including relations involving HIV+ persons or those deemed “vulnerable” are punishable by death — making Uganda the 12th state in the world to pass the death penalty for LGBTQI + persons. The Act also criminalizes a range of activities, including the ‘promotion’ of homosexuality, effectively criminalizing LGBTQI+ advocacy with up to 20 years in prison. Further, the Act seeks to actively quash LGBTQI+ civil society by outlawing the operation of LGBTQI+ organizations outright. Finally, the law empowers employers to terminate their LGBTQI+ employees and requires landlords to evict LGBTQI+ persons and organizations. Landlords who fail to evict LGBTQI+ tenants will be punished by up to 20 years in prison.
The Act has received widespread international condemnation, including Statements from both the Biden administration and Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
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