Uganda Steps Up Pressure On Gays And Lesbians

Officials in Uganda questioning the impact of homosexuality on the country’s “moral health”

A belief that the increasing number of homosexuals is detrimental to the moral health of their nation has prompted officials in Uganda to consider even tougher laws against gays and lesbians in the East African country.

“The state of moral health in our nation is challenging and we are concerned about the mushrooming of lesbianism and homosexuality,” Ethics and Integrity Minister James Nsaba Buturo told a news conference on Oct 4, according to South Africa’s Mail & Guardian Online.

Gay sex and marriage are already illegal in Uganda, bringing an official sentence of life in prison. However, despite reported cases of harassment and detainment of LGBT activists, there is little record of anyone being convicted for the crimes.

Officials want to increase enforcement of the current laws and pass new laws to make being openly gay a crime in the predominantly Christian country with a population of roughly 31 million.

“We want it to become law that if someone is homosexual or confesses to being a gay or lesbian, then he is a criminal,” Buturo said.


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