February 26, 2014 | Sex & Society

Uganda's anti-gay bill signed into law

It is now official: being gay in Uganda can land you in jail for life. President Museveni (pictured) signed the new anti-gay legislation into law on Monday.

Museveni said he wanted to see scientific proof that homosexuality was not a choice before approving the bill. A group of MPs provided him with a report based upon the findings of the country's 'top' scientists. 

The report stated: "Homosexuality is not a disease but merely an abnormal behavior which may be learned through experiences in life. In every society, there is a small number of people with homosexuality tendencies. ... The practice needs regulation like any other human behavior especially to protect the vulnerable. There is need for further studies to address sexuality in the African context."

That was enough for Museveni, who, upon signing the law, said that gays were all prostitutes and that oral sex gave people worms. (Obviously an educated man.)

Africa's Mail and Guardian discovered that the report was - surprise, surprise - doctored. The scientists actually said that people did not choose their sexual orientation, and that homosexuals had always existed in Africa and homosexuality was not introduced to the continent by Westerners.

To make matters worse for the local LGBT community, the tabloid Red Pepper published a list of the top "200 homos."

"The media witch-hunt is back," tweeted Jacqueline Kasha, a Ugandan lesbian activist named on the list.

The West has started to take a stand, however. 

The Netherlands stopped a $9.6 million subsidy to Uganda's judicial system. And Norway and Denmark said they will redirect $17 million earmarked for the Ugandan government to non-governmental agencies in the area.

The US, however, seemed less willing to act. Secretary of State John Kerry revealed that his government would look at the aid being sent to Uganda. "Now that this law has been enacted, we are beginning an internal review of our relationship with the Government of Uganda to ensure that all dimensions of our engagement, including assistance programmes, uphold our anti-discrimination policies and principles and reflect our values,'' he said in a statement.

Canada and the UK have also been critical of the new law, but have not stated if aid will be affected.

Europeans Stop Uganda Aid After Antigay Law [Wall Street Journal]

Ugandan tabloid prints list of 'homosexuals' [CNN]