Anti-Homosexuality Act, 2023 | |
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Parliament of Uganda | |
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Citation | Act No. 6 of 2023 |
Territorial extent | Uganda |
Passed by | Parliament of Uganda |
Passed | 21 March 2023 |
Assented to by | Yoweri Museveni |
Assented to | 26 May 2023 |
Vetoed | 20 April 2023 |
Type of veto | Package |
Veto overridden | 2 May 2023 |
Commenced | 30 May 2023 |
Legislative history | |
Bill citation | Anti-Homosexuality Bill, 2023 |
Introduced by | Asuman Basalirwa (JEEMA) |
Introduced | 3 March 2023 |
Committee responsible | Legal and Parliamentary Affairs |
Considered by the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee | 9 March 2023 |
Second reading | 21 March 2023 |
Third reading | 21 March 2023 |
Reconsidered by the Parliament of Uganda after veto | 2 May 2023 |
Voting summary |
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Summary | |
Under the act, 'aggravated homosexuality' is punishable by death, and 'promotion' (including advocacy of 'normalisation') of homosexuality is punishable by fines and imprisonment for up to 20 years. | |
Status: Current legislation |
The Anti-Homosexuality Act, 2023 is an act of the Parliament of Uganda that restricts freedom of speech on LGBT topics and introduces harsher penalties for certain types of homosexual acts. On 21 March 2023, the bill was read a third time, and was then sent to President Yoweri Museveni for assent.[1] On 21 April 2023, Museveni returned it to Parliament,[2] which passed it again with minor amendments on 2 May. On 26 May, Museveni signed it into law.[3][4]
The act prescribes life imprisonment for sex between two people of the same biological sex and the death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality". The latter offence includes "serial offenders", same-sex rape, sex in a position of authority or procured by intimidation, sex with persons older than seventy-five, sex with the disabled and mentally ill, and homosexual acts committed by a person with a previous conviction of homosexuality. Further, under its provisions, the promotion (including normalisation) of homosexuality is punishable by imprisonment for up to 20 years and fines.[5]
The bill is highly popular within Uganda according to polls, and was voted for nearly unanimously by Parliament.[6] The United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, and the European Union, and several local and international NGOs have condemned it.