Uganda in second bid for anti-gay law

Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni wants to reintroduce an anti-gay law that was rejected by a court earlier this month, but this time leaving out tough penalties for consenting adults.
“We agreed to come up with a new version that doesn’t hurt our Western friends but also protects Ugandans,” ruling party legislator, Medard Bitekyerezo, said on Tuesday.
“(The president) said he wants the law back in the house but now says if two consenting adults go into their room and decide to be stupid, let them be,” he said.
He hinted that the new draft might include stiffer penalties for recruitment of children and for exploiting financially vulnerable youths.
A committee headed by the country’s Vice President Kiwanuka Ssekandi has been tasked with coming up with a new version of the law, without saying when it might be introduced to Parliament.
The original version of the law, which was passed in February, was overturned on August 1 by a constitutional court on a technicality as there was no quorum in Parliament to pass the bill into law.
The original version outlawed homosexuality and made it punishable with long prison terms.
The law had been criticised by the international community including the US, the World Bank and some European countries which delayed or redirected funds meant to aid the government.
It has however drawn wide support from political parties and religious groups.
Credit: Al Jazeera