Following President Museveni ’s meeting with the members of Parliament on Thursday, he congratulated them for their firm stand on the homosexuality and agreed to assent to the Anti-Homosexuality act, 2023 into law once a few changes are made regarding rehabilitation.
President Museveni uttered that most of the problems and instability across African countries are caused by imperialist trying to impose what is not meant for Africa.
“ Therefore I congratulate you for making that stand and also the bishops and other religious people and the citizens,” said the president who is also the national chairman of the ruling National Resistance Movement party.
He was however informed by the Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka that the bill passed by parliament in its current form criminalizes even those who voluntarily come out to have practiced homosexuality and need to be helped.
Kiwanuka proposed a provision for amnesty for those who will have come out to be helped instead of punishing them in order to allow others not to fear coming out.
“ This country has issued amnesty for people who have carried out criminal activities of treasonous nature against this country. A similar provision would be provided in this law to ensure that a person who comes out on his own isn’t criminalized,” he said.
President Museveni further tasked the legislators to make some corrections especially not to frighten someone who needs rehabilitation to come out.
Museveni will meet the PLAC next week
He promised to meet the parliamentary legal affairs committee, the sponsors of the motion, Asuman Basalirwa, and other interested parties next week to finalize the whole bill.
“Since we have agreed now, I’m going to return the bill and you quickly deal with those issues and we sign to it..”
Meanwhile the president remained NRM Mps to be patriotic when fighting what he termed as imperialistic citing that in 1980’s they fought to liberate Uganda with no pay until recently.
During the meeting there was also some heated yet healthy exchange between the president and the MPs on whether to make amendments to the bill or pass it in its current form where legislators assured the president of their full support in relation to implementing the bill once signed into law.
According to woman MP for Busia Auma Hellen Wadera said that homosexuals can rehabilitate, can change .she cited out an example of her female colleague who were homosexuals but changed and are happily married with families.
However during the meeting other issues were raised and according to the chairman of the NRM parliamentary caucus and the government chief whip Denis Hanson Obua informed the president that his office has received reports with concern from section of Mps hailing Lango and Acholi, Sebei and from some other districts in Karamoja about cattle rustling and tasked the president to find a concrete solution to the vice.
However the president on this matter assured the affected communities that he has already met army commanders to find solutions to this vice that is causing instability in northern Uganda.
Check also;
- Andrew Mwenda To Challenge The Anti-homesexuality Bill If President Museveni Signs It
- Police Will Arrest Organizers Of Gay Pride Parade, Says Ugandan Official
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