Museveni, NRM agree to review Anti-Homosexuality Bill again

“We the parliamentary caucus of the NRM and independent members of parliament have today on 20^th April 2023 met at Kololo Independence Ceremonial Grounds in the presence of President Museveni who is party’s National Chairperson,” a statement issued by the party last night after the meeting read in part.

It further read: “Whereas the aforementioned meeting of the NRM parliamentary caucus and independent members of parliament working with the NRM received a keynote address on the Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2023 delivered by the President, and having exhaustively examined all related issues and reviewed previous discussions about the Bill, we have resolved to advice the President to send back the Bill to Parliament, with proposals of its improvement.”

The statement however didn’t indicate what proposals the party had discussed to improve the Bill. 

Last month, Parliament passed the much-anticipated Anti-homosexuality Bill that seeks to prohibit same-sex sexual relations.

The Bill which was passed on Tuesday, March 21 2023 had at least 389 members of parliament (representing 73%) attend in person while about four dozen others attended via zoom.

Besides prohibiting same-sex sexual relations, the Bill also seeks to strengthen Uganda’s capacity to deal with domestic and foreign threats to the heterosexual family, safeguard traditional and cultural values and protect youth/children against gay and lesbian practice through imposing penalties on the perpetrators.

“This House will not shy to restrict any right to the extent of the House that recognises, protects and safeguards the sovereignty, morals and culture of this country,” the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, said after Parliament unanimously passed the Bill.

Most members of parliament (MP) vehemently showed support for the Bill arguing that it was unusual for a person to seek sexual pleasure from a person of the same sex.

“Hon. Speaker, when I look at you and the honorable ladies in this house, there is no reason for a man to run after a man for sex,” said Gulu East MP, Charles Onen.

There were concerns raised by some activists who said that the Bill is a violation of human rights. The Speaker however trashed their concerns saying the cultural norms and aspirations of the people of Uganda will always remain supreme.

“We recognise that the constitution contains non-derogable rights and in this process, the House has striven to recognise those rights...but the norms and aspirations of the people of Uganda will always remain supreme,” she said.