Uganda will officially pass the ‘Kill The Gays’ bill at the end of this year despite international criticism.

Speaker Rebecca Kadaga said the anti-gay bill will become law by December since most Ugandans ‘are demanding it’.

Referring to the law as a ‘Christmas gift’ to the population, she spoke of ‘the serious threat’ posed by homosexuals.

The law will broaden the criminalization of same-sex relationships by dividing homosexuality into two categories; aggravated homosexuality and the offense of homosexuality.

‘Aggravated homosexuality’ is defined as gay acts committed by parents or authority figures, HIV-positive people, pedophiles and repeat offenders. If convicted, they will face the death penalty.

The ‘offense of homosexuality’ includes same-sex sexual acts or being in a gay relationship, and will be prosecuted by life imprisonment.

Originally put to government in 2009, the Anti-Homosexuality Bill had been temporarily shelved because of international criticism.

Several European countries have threatened to cut aid to Uganda if it passes, with the UK government warning Uganda it would face severe reductions in financial help.

US President Barack Obama has described it as ‘odious’, and Canadian politician John Baird has said it is ‘vile, abhorrent, and offends decency’.

Uganda lawmaker Atim Ogwal Cecilia Barbara has even suggested there should be a continent-wide ban on homosexuality, saying all African gay people should be jailed for life.

Gay rights activist David Kato was murdered in Uganda in January 2011 shortly after a local newspaper published images of him and other gay people under a headline urging readers to ‘hang them.’

Despite this, Uganda’s LGBT community held a weekend of gay pride events this summer.

According to a 2010 survey by The Pew Research Center, homosexuality is morally unacceptable to 89% of Ugandans.

Referring to the law as a ‘Christmas gift’ to the population, she spoke of ‘the serious threat’ posed by homosexuals.

But Ugandan presidential adviser John Nagenda told the BBC Ugandans were "tired of these lectures" and should not be treated like "children".

"I believe (the gay killing bill) will die a natural death. But this kind of ex-colonial mentality of saying: 'You do this or I withdraw my aid' will definitely make people extremely uncomfortable with being treated like children," Mr Nagenda said.

The sort of "grown-up" who lives in his parent's basement going EWW, EWW, GAYS! and then gets given power.

It's a shame Eddie is about 5% as funny now as he was then.

Way to home in on the important aspects there, with LASER LIKE ACCURACY.

Sorry, I clearly should have prefaced that with my agreement on every comment made hitherto. Happy?

Best pundit footnotes ever.

with the UK government warning Uganda it would face severe reductions in financial help.

Nothing in the mainstream papers about this, or on the news, which I find surprising. Have I just missed it all?

One interesting wrinkle in this legislation which isn't mentioned in the initial post is that if you suspect someone of being gay and don't inform the authorities within 12 days you can be prosecuted as well.

Do gay tourists get locked up, too?

I don't understand why any gay person would decide that Uganada was a country they wanted to be a tourist in.

Do our government offer any travel advice to people planning to visit Uganda?

LOCAL LAWS AND CUSTOMS
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There is very little social tolerance of homosexuality, which is illegal. A Ugandan MP has proposed reactionary legislation that would further criminalise homosexuality and introduce the death penalty for some activity (currently going through the parliamentary process as a private member’s bill).

Are we threatening Russia for 'banning' the gays yet? I doubt it.

Well if we're not we bloody well should be, if there's one thing I can't stand when it comes to discrimination, it's discrimination.

But you're discriminating against people who discriminate.

:D

I think AE just blue-screened.

Can someone remind me again why being one of teh gays makes you a baddie? I've totally forgotten

what they say or think?