Ugandan President signs anti-gay bill

Uganda’s leader has signed into law a bill toughening penalties for gay people, but without a clause criminalising those who do not report them.

It includes life sentences for gay sex and same-sex marriage, but a proposed sentence of up to 14 years for first-time offenders has been removed, British Broadcasting Corporation reports.

US President Barack Obama had cautioned the bill would be a backward step.

Museveni had previously agreed to hold it pending US scientific advice.

Homosexual acts are already illegal in Uganda.

Correspondents say Uganda’s inefficient parliamentary system has meant it has been difficult to get copies of the draft legislation.

The bill signed by Museveni, and seen by the BBC, is significantly different to what was initially reported on Monday – and has been watered down, they say.

The new law allows life imprisonment as the penalty for acts of “aggravated homosexuality” and also criminalises the “promotion” of homosexuality”, where activists encourage others to come out.

Earlier drafts of the bill made it a crime not to report gay people – in effect making it impossible to live as openly gay – but this clause has been removed.

Lesbians are covered by the bill for the first time.

Gay activists say they will challenge the new laws in court.

The bill originally proposed the death penalty for some homosexual acts, but that was later removed amid international criticism.

Government officials clapped after Museveni signed the bill at a news conference at State House.

BBC reports in Uganda, says it is rare for the president to assent to bills so publicly.

But the anti-gay bill has become so controversial that the media were invited to witness its signing, she says.

Earlier, government spokesman spokesman Ofwono Opondo told the Reuters news agency Mr Museveni wanted “to demonstrate Uganda’s independence in the face of Western pressure and provocation”.

The sponsor of the bill, MP David Bahati, insisted homosexuality was a “behaviour that can be learned and can be unlearned”.

“Homosexuality is just bad behaviour that should not be allowed in our society,” he told the BBC’s Newsday programme.

But a gay rights activist in Uganda told the programme that he was “very scared” about the new bill.

“I didn’t even go to work today [Monday]. I’m locked up in the house. And I don’t know what’s going to happen now.”