The Ugandan government is attempting to halt the progress of the controversial Anti-Homosexuality Bill. If passed, the bill will introduce the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality” alongside imprisonment for activists and allies.

Debate time for the private member’s bill has been cancelled by the Ugandan government in what broadcaster NTV described as a “surprise move”. Government sources stated that there were already enough laws on the statute books to regulate homosexuality, rendering the bill unnecessary. Uganda has come under considerable international pressure to drop the bill.

MP David Bahati claims that he has been assured the bill will, in fact, be debated. He told NTV that new legislation is necessary, arguing: “we don’t have any provision on promotion of homosexuality anywhere, we don’t have any provision on same-sex marriage, we don’t have any provision […] on recruitment of our children”.

Last year a tabloid newspaper in Uganda backed the bill and called for the execution of gay people. One of the individuals mentioned in the article was prominent LGBTI activist David Kato, who was murdered in January this year.

Information Minister Masiko Kabakumba confirmed that the Ugandan government remains opposed to gay rights. “Of course we are concerned, we don’t condone homosexuality in our country,” she insisted.

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