HOMOSEXUALITY: Speaker Among dares to achieve what Kadaga failed
The Constitutional Court in August 2014 annulled the Anti-Homosexual law after it had been challenged by Ugandan pro-gay activists saying it was passed without a quorum.
The Speaker of Parliament of Uganda, Rt Hon Anita Annet Among, has announced that a bill will be introduced in parliament as soon as possible to deal with homosexuality and lesbianism and that this time voting on the bill will be by show of hands and that there will be a quorum.
Among, speaking Tuesday during breakfast prayers with various religious leaders in Kampala, invited heads of religions in Uganda to personally attend plenary to witness which lawmaker will vote to legalize homosexuality.
She roared that Uganda ‘shall jealously protect our cherished values and culture’; adding that the country doesn’t need money from homosexuals to change the traditional values and culture of Ugandans.
“We don’t appreciate the money that they are bringing to destroy our cultures. We don’t need their money, we need our cultures,” she said amid thunderous applause.
“And on that note, therefore, as an institution of parliament, an institution that passes the laws that are in this country, tomorrow we are going to bring a bill about anti-homosexuality.
And I want to request religious leaders that this time, be there [in parliament] and see who is who?” she said before heading to parliament to chair today’s plenary.
We gathered earlier today to dedicate @Parliament_Ug to the Lord, and I pledged to the Country that a Bill will be introduced as soon as possible to deal with Homosexuality and lesbianism. We shall Jealously protect our cherished values and culture. pic.twitter.com/yAABBIs3dK
— Anita Annet Among (@AnitahAmong) February 28, 2023
And during plenary, Asuman Basalirwa, the Bugiri Municipality MP, and a close colleague of the Speaker, moved a motion seeking leave of parliament to introduce a Private Members Bill entitled the Anti-Homosexuality Bill.
Basalirwa has said that homosexuality has become a cancer and a human wrong that must be tackled through a piece of legislation.
Kadaga failures
This will not be the first time that the Parliament of Uganda entertains and passes a bill into law criminalizing homosexuality.
In December 2013, the 9th parliament, under the leadership of Rebecca Kadaga as Speaker, passed the Anti-Homosexuality Bill into law and President Yoweri Museveni publically assented to it on February 2014.
The law which was heavily criticized by human rights bodies criminalized same-sex relationships with offenders getting life in prison.
Amnesty International said the law was a grave assault on human rights and makes a mockery of the Ugandan constitution.
The Constitutional Court in August 2014 annulled the Anti-Homosexual law after it had been challenged by Ugandan pro-gay activists saying it was passed without a quorum.
“We will not allow that aspect of there was no quorum. Now we are going to vote by show of hands. You are either for homosexuality or you are against it. We want to see the kind of leaders we have in this country. And I promise you, I will stand by that.” Among said at the prayers.
