After collecting dust in the prior session of Uganda’s Parliament, the Anti-Homosexuality Bill has been returned to active consideration by MP David Bahati.
In spite of some reporting, it appears the bill has been reintroduced in its original form, which keeps the death penalty intact.
CNN:
“This is a piece of legislation that is needed in this country to protect the traditional family here in Africa, and also protect the future of our children,” said David Bahati, the lawmaker. “Every single day of my life now I am still pushing that it passes.”
In addition to punishing homosexuals, it also proposes years in prison for anyone who counsels or reaches out to homosexuals, a provision that would ensnare rights groups, they said.
“It aims to criminalize the ‘promotion’ of homosexuality, compels HIV testing in some circumstances, and imposes life sentences for entering into a same-sex marriage,” Amnesty International said in a statement Tuesday. “It would also be an offense for a person who is aware of any violations of the bill’s wide-ranging provisions not to report them to the authorities within 24 hours.”
New Vision:
There was excitement at Parliament Tuesday afternoon after the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, 2009 was re-tabled for consideration….
MPs applauded as Ndorwa West MP David Bahati took to the floor to re-introduce the controversial Bill for reference to the appropriate committee.
After re-tabling the Bill, MPs both on the ruling side and the opposition gave Bahati a standing ovation. “Our Bill, our man,” the legislators chanted.
O-blog-dee managed to speak with Bahati and reports the same rhetoric as the last go-around. A sample:
I asked Bahati about tourism, “are you concerned people will stop visiting Uganda if you pass the Bill?” He said, “no Uganda has been voted the best destination in Africa last year. I am not worried about that.”
He told me that the purpose of the Anti-homosexuality Bill is to “protect our children from promotion of that behavior.” I then asked what about consenting adult in private. He said that is outlawed “because they are doing the wrong thing.”
I asked him to explain how that fell into the reasoning of promotion and he was unable to answer, instead changing back to the same repetitive rhetoric: “We cannot debate the freedom of our country to make laws to protect our children.”
This blogger’s best prediction is that if the thing ever makes it out of committee consideration, it could have its day and be passed forward to President Museveni, who would veto it. That would return it to Members of Parliament, who could override the president.
CNN
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/02/08/world/africa/uganda-anti-gay-bill/?hpt=hp_t3
New Vision
http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/628876-bill-to-outlaw-homosexuality-in-uganda-re-tabled.html