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On the 21st of March 2023, parliament in what it described as an early Easter gift to Ugandans passed the stringent Anti- Homosexuality bill 2023 which will become law when the president assents to it.
This is a re-introduction of the bill which was struck down by the then Justice Steven Kavuma-led constitutional court which rendered it null, void and poorly made on grounds of quorum issues by the parliament which passed into law. The previous one had been drafted and tabled by Ndorwa west MP David Bahati and this one was drafted and tabled by Bugiri Municipality legislator Asuman Basalirwa.
The bill has however faced condemnation from pro-west activists and leaders who have termed it as a bad bill meant to curtail human rights, freedoms and would water down the fight against HIV in Uganda.
Ugandans who struck the bill in 2014, these include veteran journalist Andrew Mwenda, MP Fox Odoi, Nicholas Opio among others have vowed to strike it down again if president Museveni signs it into law.
It’s by law that once the bill is passed by parliament, the Clerk to parliament prepares the copies which are sent to the president and with in 30 days, he either signs the bill into law or rejects to sign it and sends it back to parliament for revew and reconsideration.
As Ugandans put their eyes to President Museveni since the clock is ticking towards the mandatory 30days of signing the bill into law, seems the contentious bill hasn’t yet reached state house or even the president’s office and he’s not yet aware of it’s contents.
Through the official Uganda State House Twitter page, it revealed what the president will do before putting pen to paper to sign the bill into law, this clearly indicates that the president just like the western donors is not comfortable with some sections of the bill, the punishments the bill brings among other things.
This also fades the hope of this bill ever coming into law any time soon if the president resends it back to parliament to review of certain sections. According to the twitter account of State House Uganda,
President @KagutaMuseveni has said that once he receives the Anti-Gay Bill, he will convene Ugandan Members of Parliament to harmonize on it & see how best to protect children. “Children are children, they need to grow as children, no one should invade their childhood,” he said. pic.twitter.com/eZrq1DkpR9
— State House Uganda (@StateHouseUg) April 5, 2023
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