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Ugandan Parliament to Fast Track “Kill the Gays Bill” Restart

7-29-11

by Bridgette P. LaVictoire

It appears Uganda’s Kill the Gays Bill is about to be resurrected and put on a fast track in the Ugandan Parliament.

The bill, which calls for the death penalty for the “crime” of being gay or HIV-​positive, and prison sentences for friends, family, and acquaintances who believe someone is gay but does not immediately report them to authorities, may be voted on “by the end of August.”

According to human rights expert Warren Throckmorton:

I spoke yesterday with Ugandan MP Hon. Otto Odonga who told me that the Parliament will bring back the Anti-Homosexuality Bill soon, perhaps “by the end of August.” Although the re-introduction of the antigay bill had been expected, Odonga said the bill is “back from the perspective of the new parliament starting from where the last parliament ended.”

Since the end of the Eighth Parliament, observers have speculated that the Ninth Parliament might not require re-introduction of bills deliberated upon but not passed. Two weeks ago, the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, held a meeting with the chairpersons of all Parliament’s committees to orient them to their new positions. Also, in order to save time and expense, the group decided to bring forward at least three bills to the new session: the Government Assurances Bill, the Marriage and Divorce Bill and the Anti-Homosexuality Bill.

Last year nearly two million individuals signed online petitions and government worldwide, including the U.K., and United States condemned the “Kill the Gays Bill, in an international effort to stop its passage.