#YoweriMuseveni gave assent to the Anti-Homosexuality Act, which immediately becomes one of the strictest anti-LGBTQ+ laws in the world, the official government of #Uganda’s Twitter account reported on Monday (29 May). Uganda parliament speaker Anita Among also confirmed the news in a post on Twitter, saying Museveni had “answered the cries of our people” and “legislated to protect the sanctity of family”. “I now encourage the duty bearers under the law to execute the mandate bestowed upon them in the Anti-Homosexuality Act,” Among wrote. “The people of Uganda have spoken, and it is your duty to now enforce the law in a fair, steadfast and firm manner.” The new legislation doubles down on already harsh sanctions imposed on LGBTQ+ people in Uganda, where consensual same-sex sexual intimacy is illegal. The Anti-Homosexuality Act introduces the new crime of “aggravated homosexuality”, which is defined as sex with a person under the age of 18 and having sex while HIV positive, among other categories. It carries a death sentence. Parliament approved an earlier version of the bill in March that had provisions which sought to punish people for merely identifying as part of the LGBTQ+ community, but this clause was later removed by lawmakers in May after Museveni returned the bill to parliament for reconsideration. #ArthurKayima, a queer #Ugandan #humanrights activist, condemned the “vile, deadly legislation”, saying it will do “nothing to improve Uganda or the lives of Ugandans”. “Rather than focusing on the real issues Uganda is facing – poverty, poor infrastructure, the economy, domestic violence – Museveni would rather cause distraction by attacking our fundamental right to exist,” Kayima said. The activist continued: “I am afraid for my community. How many of us will be jailed, or beaten, or further chased into the shadows of society as a result of this legislation? How many will die? “All of those who believe in our rights must fight this legislation and the forces behind it by all means necessary.” #ugandanpolitics #lgbtqrights #queerrightsarehumanrights #queernews #queertok #ugandatiktok