Ugandan Parliament Adjourns and "Shelves" Anti-Gay Bill

An update to state-sponsored anti-gay terror campaign in Uganda. The parliament has adjourned after taking no action and "shelving" the extreme Anti-Homosexuality Bill, which seeks the death penalty or life imprisonment for  so-called "aggravated homosexuality."

Speaker Edward Ssekandi announced that he was "adjourning this house" and killing off the debate. But there still is a chance that it could be passed later this year, reports AFP.

David Bahati, the lawmaker behind the anti-gay bill, said that no bills could be passed as the cabinet was dissolved following the inauguration of President Yoweri Museveni on Thursday following a landslide election victory in February. But he said that even if the bill was not passed this session it had achieved the goal of sparking a debate that would continue when the new parliament convenes.

Parliament's current session ends on Wednesday, but since Monday and Tuesday will be given over to the swearing-in of new parliamentarians, officials said that Friday is effectively the last day bills could be discussed before the recess. Ssekandi said he reserved the right to reconvene parliament in case of an emergency, but rights group Avaaz also welcomed the news of the decision to "drop" the legislation from parliamentary discussions.

And from the BBC: "Earlier this week, one of the Christian pastors who helped inspire the legislation said he did not support the death penalty clause. But Pastor Martin Ssempa urged MPs to pass the legislation."

The move comes on the day after President Yoweri Museveni was sworn for a fourth term  and "amid mounting pressure on the country over its moves to crush both the opposition and the gay community."

Uganda has been rocked by riots in recent weeks over petrol and food prices. Supporters of opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye—who opposes the anti-gay bill and suports decriminalizing homosexuality—rioted and were tear-gassed yesterday after he was prevented from returning to the country.

Rod 2.0's complete Uganda coverage HERE.

Comments

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Goods news and Africa in regards to gay rights and homosexuality are often a oxymoron for the most part but that the bill was halted was a great sigh of relief....For now....