By: staff Reporters
The White House has issued a warning to Uganda regarding the potential economic sanctions of passing a new bill that would severely restrict homosexual activities.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby stated mid this week that the US government would have to consider taking economic action if the bill were to become law.
The bill proposes life sentences for individuals who identify as gay in Uganda, as well as the death penalty in certain cases.
Similarly, the European Union has also expressed deep concern about the bill, stating that it is contrary to international human rights law.
The EU has pledged to continue engaging with Ugandan authorities and civil society to ensure that all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, are treated with dignity and respect.
Western power’s statements follow the unanimous vote by the Ugandan parliament on the bill that seeks to criminalize same-sex marriages and relationships.
Homosexuality is a trending issue in the East and Southern regions, with individual countries approaching the matter differently but certainly in objection.
Early this week, a Namibian court ruled against granting citizenship to a child of a gay couple who was born through surrogacy, causing sadness among the LGBTQ communities and human rights activists.
In Uganda as in Namibia, it remains unclear whether LGBTQ communities’ anger will change anything.
Gathering by Joshua Illya; reporting and editing by Ollus Ndomu
