The President of Uganda Yoweri Museveni has defended his decision to sign the anti-homosexuality bill which has sparked different reactions worldwide with the United States and UK criticizing the move.
Museveni said the law is necessary to prevent LGBTQ community members he claimed were “disoriented” from recruiting others.
The anti-LGBTQ law calls for punishing members of the community harshly including and up to death penalty.
Moreover, by signing the bill, Museveni received criticism from the western world including threats to cut off aid to Uganda and impose other sanctions by U.S. President Joe Biden
“The signing is finished, nobody will move us,” Museveni said as per a statement issued by his office on Wednesday.
Moreover, the bill degrees for capital punishment for “serial offenders” including transmission of a terminal illness like HIV/AIDS through gay sex and having same-sex relations with a person with a disability.
Also Read: Uganda Passes Bill Imposing Death Penalty to People Identifying as LGBTQ
It further stipulates a 20-year sentence for “promoting” homosexuality.
President Museveni also reported that he had carried out vast consultations to determine whether homosexuality was genetic before he signed the law.
He told his party’s lawmakers that experts persuaded him that it was not genetic and described it instead as “psychological disorientation.”
“The problem is that, yes, you are disoriented. You have got a problem to yourself. Now, don’t try to recruit others. If you try to recruit people into a disorientation, then we go for you. We punish you,” he stated.
“But secondly, if you violently grab some children and you rape them and so on and so forth, we kill you. And that one I totally support, and I will support.” Museveni added.
Nonetheless, the anti-gay bill will also enact life sentence for same-sex intercourse and a 20-year sentence for promotion of homosexuality.
In addition, any company including media and non-governmental organizations that knowingly promote LGBTQ activity will be.