UGANDAN GOVERNMENT DOESN’T BACK ANTI-GAY BILL

The Ugandan government has said that it does not support the Anti-Homosexuality Bill that was re-tabled in parliament last week by MP David Bahati.

The ‘private member’s bill’ was originally introduced in October 2009, also by Bahati.

“Whilst the government of Uganda does not support this bill, it is required under our constitution to facilitate this debate. The facilitation of this debate should not be confused for the government’s support for this bill,” said the government in a statement issued on Wednesday.

It added: “As a parliamentary democracy the process of debate will continue.”

In 2009, a U.S. State Department spokesman claimed that Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni had told American officials that he would block the Anti-Homosexuality Bill if passed and would not sign it into law.

It remains unclear if the death penalty clause in cases of “aggravated homosexuality” has been removed from the version of the bill that was tabled on Tuesday.

There have been claims that the original version of the bill was introduced but that Bahati is prepared to drop the death penalty if a parliamentary committee recommends this.