By John Ikani
Uganda’s ruling party has decided to send the controversial anti-gay bill back to Parliament for further consideration, a month after it was passed by the legislative body.
According to a statement from the caucus chairperson of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), the party’s chairman, the Members of Parliament (MPs) agreed to come up with “proposals for improvement” to the bill during a meeting with President Yoweri Museveni.
The controversial bill prescribes severe penalties, including life imprisonment for people who identify as LGBT and the death penalty for what is referred to as “aggravated homosexuality.”
It remains unclear what specific changes the president wants to be made to the proposed law.
The president has about a month to sign the legislation into law, veto it, or return it to the MPs for amendment and re-tabling after it is passed by parliament.
President Museveni has repeatedly stated that the topic of homosexuality requires more discussion and understanding. Although the ruling party dominates parliament, which always prevails on any legislation, the bill was passed with the support of the opposition and the ruling party.
Critics have claimed that the proposed law promotes homophobia and goes against the country’s constitution, potentially impacting anyone suspected of being LGBT.
