UGANDA OUTLAWS GAY MARRIAGE

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has signed a number of constitutional amendments into law in the East African country, which include a ban on same-sex marriage.

The move reflects an ongoing homophobic conservatism exhibited by many governments on the continent.

The amendment states that “marriage is lawful only if entered into between a man and a woman”. It also says that “it is unlawful for same-sex couples to marry.”

The constitutional amendments also remove term limits on the presidency, allowing Museveni to stand again for president. It is this that has raised the most controversy among opposition parties in the country. The bill also makes provision for Swahili to be recognised as Uganda’s second official language.

Museveni originally came to power in a coup d’etat in 1996 before winning two subsequent elections. Without the new amendments to the constitution, he would have been forced to step down early next year.

Homosexuality is illegal in Uganda under a colonial law criminalising sodomy.