- Published: 25 Feb 2014 at 14.43
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ENTEBBE, UGANDA — A controversial bill that introduces lengthy prison sentences for people who engage in homosexual acts was signed into law on Monday by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.
The law, which has been strongly criticised by Western governments and human rights groups, punishes first-time offenders with up to 14 years in jail. People convicted of same-sex intercourse with a disabled person or a minor, as well as HIV-positive people caught engaging in homosexual acts, face life imprisonment.
The law also makes it a crime not to report gay people, and prohibits the "promotion" of homosexuality even by talking positively about it.
For the first time, lesbians are also targeted by legislation.
"Those recruiting our children into homosexuality and engaging in these practices should be punished harshly to defend our country's culture," Mr Museveni said at the signing ceremony at his residence in Entebbe, which took place in the presence of government ministers and lawmakers.
The law had been passed by parliament in December, with politicians rejecting calls for the death penalty to be applied in the most serious cases.
"I am really scared. Right now, I'm getting threats left and right from unknown people through telephone calls, text messages and Facebook," gay activist Dennis Wamala told dpa.
"We are going to stay around and fight on. We are going to challenge [the law] in court," he added.
But other gay representatives expressed fear of growing police harassment and said many gays were planning to leave the country.
In the face of intense pressure from Western countries and human rights groups, Mr Museveni had initially refused to sign the law, arguing that homosexuals should be "rehabilitated" rather than jailed.
He then decided to affirm Uganda's independence from Western pressure, according to government sources.
"I was propelled to get interested in this issue by the arrogance and carelessness of Western groups, which came to our schools to recruit school children into homosexuality," the president said.
UN human rights chief Navi Pillay denounced the law, saying it would institutionalise discrimination against lesbians, gays, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people and could encourage harassment and violence against them.
"Disapproval of homosexuality by some can never justify violating the fundamental human rights of others," Ms Pillay said. "This law will institutionalise discrimination and is likely to encourage harassment and violence against individuals on the basis of their sexual orientation. It is formulated so broadly that it may lead to abuse of power and accusations against anyone, not just LGBT people."
She added in a statement issued in Geneva that the law would have a negative impact on efforts to fight the spread of HIV.
US President Barack Obama had warned that signing the anti-gay law could "complicate" Uganda's relations with one of its main aid donors. Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday called it a "tragic day for Uganda" and said the US would begin a review of its relationship with the government, including aid programmes.
"Uganda does not need their aid," Mr Museveni said. "It is a rich country. With core programmes like (those against) AIDS, we cannot fail to get money. We can cut it from other sectors and support our people."
The president did, however, say that the anti-gay law could be reconsidered in the light of new evidence. "If scientists in the future can say that homosexuality is genetic, then we can look at the law again," he said.
Amnesty International condemned the law as a "draconian and damaging piece of legislation," while Denmark said it will withdraw some bilateral aid from the Ugandan government.
Aid worth about 50 million kroner ($9.1 million) will instead be channelled to projects run by the private sector and civil society groups, said Mogens Jensen, minister for trade and development cooperation.
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