US To Review Relations With Uganda

The bill imposes harsh penalties for same sex couples.

White House Spokesperson Jay Carney said the US Government has started a review of all its assistance programs to Uganda including those focused on fighting HIV/AIDS.

The White House made good its threat after Museveni on Monday signed the bill into law.

“We will continue to urge the government of Uganda to repeal this abhorrent law and to advocate for the protection of the universal human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons in Uganda and around the world,” Carney said.

Museveni signed the bill into law despite protests not just from rights groups from the west but also immense pressure from western nations

“The outsiders cannot dictate to us, this is our country, this is our society, and this is our future. This is not anybody's future and the outsiders will have to live with us, or if they don't want they can take their aid. Uganda is very rich, we don't need aid, in fact aid is part of the problem," Museveni said

The decision to sign the bill into law by Museveni is now being celebrated in Uganda with members of the Ugandan Parliament who crafted the legislation in 2009 applauding the President.

“This a victory for the family of Uganda, a victory for the future of our children, and certainly a triumph of our sovereignty as a country that got independence 50 years ago,” said David Bahati, One of the Ugandan MPs.

The bill was introduced in 2009 and initially proposed a death sentence for homosexual acts.

The bill was however amended following threats of withdrawal from Uganda by Western Countries.

The law will now see anyone practicing homosexuality imprisoned for not less that 14 years but there are stiffer penalties for what it terms as aggravated homosexuality which will attract life imprisonment.

Ugandans who commit homosexual acts outside Uganda are still subject to the law and can be extradited.

By Beth Nyaga