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Furore, Uncertainty As Uganda Passes Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2023

It is not yet uhuru for the gay community in Uganda as the country’s parliament has just passed a bill criminalising identifying as lesbian, gay bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ).

Uganda has often been listed as one of the countries where there is very little tolerance for gays and gay rights. In that sense, then, the recent decision of the parliament would not surprise those who have been paying attention.

Understandably, there has been a great furore over the decision of the country to criminalise certain sexualities. Uganda is currently trending on Twitter over the decision to penalise certain sexualities. While some tweeps are in support of the decision of the parliament, some condemn it outright.

According to some of those opposed to the bill, a person’s sexuality is not something the government should regulate.

Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2023 has been described as one of the harshest ever, with defaulters liable to several years imprisonment, among other penalties.

President Yoweri Museveni, who has been in power for decades and who has always dismissed gays as deviants, is expected to sign the bill later. With this bill, violators might face up to 10 years behind bars or, in extreme cases, the death penalty.

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