MP behind globally-condemned legislation said he will 'concede' if committee recommends that death sentence be removed
The MP behind anti-gay legislation that has been condemned worldwide said yesterday the death penalty is likely to be dropped from the bill.
David Bahati said if the committee studying the bill recommends the death penalty be removed, 'I would concede.'
Proposed 18 months ago, the bill attracted international condemnation, including from President Barack Obama.
Under the legislation, anyone convicted of a homosexual act would face life imprisonment.
The original bill would have mandated a death sentence for active homosexuals living with HIV or in cases of same-sex rape.
Stephen Tashobya, the chairman of the legal and parliamentary affairs committee, said the legislation may come up for a vote before parliament's session ends 12 May.
'We shall try and see how far we can go with the bill. It may be possible. We are doing all we can. We have limited time,' he said on Tuesday, before adding: 'Many people have expressed concern about that provision providing for the death sentence and I'm sure when we start hearings on that bill we will hear many more concerns.'
Bahati said he thinks the bill would become law if voted on by legislators.
'I can guarantee you I have not seen any member of parliament who is opposed to it,' he said.
Frank Mugisha, the director of Sexual Minorities Uganda, a gay rights group, said anti-gay sentiment in Uganda had increased since the bill's introduction. More gays are being harassed, he said, because of media attention and because church leaders have been preaching for the bill's passage to congregations.
Bahati's original bill carried harsh provisions. The original bill would mandate a death sentence for active homosexuals living with HIV or in cases of same-sex rape. 'Serial offenders' also could face capital punishment, but the legislation did not define the term. Anyone convicted of a homosexual act would face life imprisonment.
Anyone who 'aids, abets, counsels or procures another to engage of acts of homosexuality' would face seven years in prison. Landlords who rent rooms or homes to homosexuals also could get seven years.
'If the bill passes we cannot even be allowed to do our work,' Mugisha said.
Last year a tabloid newspaper published the names and photos of men it alleged were gay. One cover included the words: 'Hang them.'
Shortly afterward, in January, a prominent gay rights activist whose picture was published was killed, though authorities contend David Kato's sexual orientation had nothing to do with the killing.
Bahati called Kato's death regrettable.
'My reaction is that I extend condolences to the family, parents of Kato. It's regrettable that they could find themselves in this situation, and also regrettable that he could be allowed to be used to recruit our children.
'But the death of Kato had nothing to do with the bill in parliament,' he said.
Bahati, 36, is serving his first term. He said that the bill has helped raise public awareness about what he calls 'the dangers to our children'. Many Ugandan leaders who support the bill say that gay Ugandans recruit school children to become homosexual.
Comments