- The Swedish government has said it would cut aid to Uganda over the proposed anti-gay law in the country.
The bill which was introduced in Uganda's legislature to criminalise homosexual behaviour and likely to pass into a law, would severely punish homosexuality acts in the east African state.
Sweden’s development assistance minister, Gunilla Carlsson said Ungada has defied international pressure to scrape the piece of legislation which would terrorise the homosexuals. Uganda receives about $50 million in development aid from Sweden annually.
The Ndorwa West MP David Bahati, who brought the Anti-Homosexuality Bill (2009), has denied accusations that he is in a hate campaign, insisting he is defending the heterosexual family.
Mid October, the Ugandan Clergy appealed to the government to scrape the death penalty in the Anti-homosexuality Bill 2009 currently being debated in parliament.
Once the bill is passed into law, anyone found practicing homosexuality will face 14 years in prison whereas those found guilty of operating brothels where homosexuals meet will also be liable to 14 years imprisonment.
The Offenders would face death for having sex with a minor or a disabled person, or for infecting their partners with HIV. It would also punish attempted homosexuality as well as the failure of a third party to report homosexual relationships.
Parliament yesterday begun public debates on the Bill, conducted by the committee on presidential affairs.
Pressure has been mounting from outside the continent for the past two years to introduce the same rights for homosexuals as are on the statute books of most Western countries. There are more than 500,000 homosexuals in Uganda in a country of 30 million.
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afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
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