Anti-Homosexuality Act, 2023

Not to be confused with the Anti-Homosexuality Act, 2014.

Anti-Homosexuality Act, 2023
Parliament of Uganda
  • An Act to prohibit any form of sexual relations between persons of the same sex; to prohibit the promotion or recognition of sexual relations between persons of the same sex; and for related matters.
CitationAct No. 6 of 2023
Territorial extentUganda
Passed byParliament of Uganda
Passed21 March 2023
Assented to byYoweri Museveni
Assented to26 May 2023
Vetoed20 April 2023
Type of vetoPackage
Veto overridden2 May 2023
Commenced30 May 2023
Legislative history
Bill citationAnti-Homosexuality Bill, 2023
Introduced byAsuman Basalirwa (JEEMA)
Introduced3 March 2023
Committee responsibleLegal and Parliamentary Affairs
Considered by the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee9 March 2023
Second reading21 March 2023
Third reading21 March 2023
Reconsidered by the Parliament of Uganda after veto2 May 2023
Voting summary
  • 348 voted for
  • 1 voted against
  • 208 absent
Summary
Under the act, 'aggravated homosexuality' is punishable by death, and 'promotion' (including advocacy of 'normalisation') of homosexuality is punishable by fines and imprisonment for up to 20 years.
Status: Current legislation

The Anti-Homosexuality Act, 2023 is an act of the Parliament of Uganda that restricts freedom of speech on LGBT topics and introduces harsher penalties for certain types of homosexual acts. On 21 March 2023, the bill was read a third time, and was then sent to President Yoweri Museveni for assent.[1] On 21 April 2023, Museveni returned it to Parliament,[2] which passed it again with minor amendments on 2 May. On 26 May, Museveni signed it into law.[3][4]

The act prescribes life imprisonment for sex between two people of the same biological sex and the death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality". The latter offence includes "serial offenders", same-sex rape, sex in a position of authority or procured by intimidation, sex with persons older than seventy-five, sex with the disabled and mentally ill, and homosexual acts committed by a person with a previous conviction of homosexuality. Further, under its provisions, the promotion (including normalisation) of homosexuality is punishable by imprisonment for up to 20 years and fines.[5]

The bill is highly popular within Uganda according to polls, and was voted for nearly unanimously by Parliament.[6] The United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, and the European Union, and several local and international NGOs have condemned it.

  1. ^ Okiror 2023a.
  2. ^ Okiror 2023b.
  3. ^ "President Museveni signs Anti-Homosexuality Bill into law". NewVision. 29 May 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  4. ^ Obulutsa 2023.
  5. ^ https://www.parliament.go.ug/sites/default/files/The%20Anti-Homosexuality%20Act%2C%202023.pdf
  6. ^ "Uproar after Uganda enacts anti-gay law – DW – 05/30/2023". dw.com. Retrieved 8 November 2023.