Uganda’s new anti-..

bill has been met with international condemnation. Uganda is a signatory to international human rights instruments such as the international covenant on civil and political rights (ICCPR) which enshrines the right to non-discrimination, including in private sexual relations.

While the ICCPR does not specify sexual orientation as a protected ground, the United Nations Human Rights Committee has found that the treaty includes an obligation to prevent discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. These obligations are not legally binding on Uganda as the constitution is the country’s supreme legal instrument.

Everything hinges on whether Museveni signs the bill into law. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, said: “The passing of this discriminatory bill – probably among the worst of its kind in the world – is a deeply troubling development,” and he urged

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Museveni not to sign it. He said:

If signed into law by the President, it will render lesbian, gay and bisexual people in Uganda criminals simply for existing, for being who they are. It could provide carte blanche for the systematic violation of nearly all of their human rights and serve to incite people against each other.

But, after passing the 2014 law, Museveni described homosexuals as “disgusting” and it is thought likely that he will sign the bill into law. This will legitimise anti-LGBTQ+ hatred and open up the possibility that people could even face the death penalty for committing a private, consensual sexual act.

The threat of losing international aid was not sufficient to dissuade Museveni from assenting to the 2014 act and it is doubtful whether it will dissuade him now.