UGANDA DEATH BILL DELAYED TO FRIDAY

The Associated Press reports that a parliamentary debate and possible vote on Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill has been delayed until tomorrow.

According to the news agency, officials said that the horrific legislation would likely be tabled before the full parliament in an extraordinary session on Friday.

The bill was meant to be debated on Wednesday following earlier committee hearing but this was cancelled after female MPS walked out of parliament in protest against another unrelated bill.

Originally introduced in October 2009, the Anti-Homosexuality Bill allows for the death penalty in cases of “aggravated homosexuality” and includes various criminal penalties for anyone who fails to turn over gay people to the police or who “promotes” homosexuality.

An international online petition opposing the adoption of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill has been signed by almost 1.5 million people in just a few days.

While countries such as the UK and the US have condemned Uganda’s pending Anti-Homosexuality Bill, the South African government has stayed silent on the matter and has kept its openly homophobic ambassador, Jon Qwelane, in Uganda at his post.