Uganda President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has refused to sign into law a controversial anti-LGBTQ+ bill that prescribes the death penalty in some cases, media reports indicated.
Museveni’s decision was announced late on April 20 after a meeting of parliamentarians in his ruling party—almost all of whom support the bill approved by legislators in March, Al-Jazeera reported. (Only two of 389 legislators present for the voting session opposed the measure.)
However, spokesman Sandor Walusimbi said Museveni—who is under global pressure to veto the measure—was not opposed to the punishments proposed in the bill, but wanted parliamentarians to look into “the issue of rehabilitation.”
The bill prescribes the death penalty for what is called “aggravated homosexuality” and life imprisonment for “homosexuality.” Aggravated homosexuality is defined as sexual relations involving people infected with HIV as well as minors and other categories of vulnerable people. The bill would also punish the “promotion, recruitment and funding” of LGBTQ-specific activities in Uganda with up to 10 years in prison, according to The Washington Blade.
On social media, Sexual Minorities Uganda Executive Director Frank Mugisha described Museveni’s decision not to sign the bill as “progress.”
—Andrew Davis