Members of the Ugandan Parliament are reportedly working on a revised version of its law criminalizing homosexuality. An earlier version of the law was rendered null and void earlier this year after a Parliamentary review board concluded that the quorum necessary to pass the law had not, in fact, been present.
The Anti-Homosexuality Bill, decried by a number of Western nations that provide aid funding to Uganda, would penalize gay individuals and those thought to be “promoting” homosexuality with lifetime jail sentences. Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni has insisted that the newest iteration of the law would be focused primarily on the protection of children from the threat of homosexuals. The law, however, draws no distinction between gays and pedophiles.
Should the bill be reintroduced to the floor, it will be referred to a committee for review and potential further alterations before it is released into the House for discussion and debate. Members of the parliamentary body advocating for the bill's dismissal are vastly outnumbered. According to the Daily Monitor 254 out of 376 parliament members, more than the necessary ⅔ quorum, have expressed their support for reintroducing the Anti-Homosexuality Bill for consideration.
"As soon as the movers of this bill are ready, we will proceed,” Said Deputy Parliament Speaker Jacob Oulanyah. “When it is introduced, we will handle it appropriately."
