Muhoozi says Uganda Ready to Scrap Anti-Gay Law After Sanctions from US and World Bank
General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, son of Uganda’s long-serving President Yoweri Museveni and leader in the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), has disclosed plans to repeal the country’s controversial anti-homosexuality law.
On Friday, January 3, 2025, Muhoozi announced via social media that Uganda intends to overturn the law by 2026.
While many speculate that international sanctions against Uganda influenced this decision, Muhoozi refrained from confirming this as the primary reason.
Instead, he emphasized that punitive measures, such as caning, are ineffective in addressing the issue.
Despite the nation’s view of homosexuality as a sickness, he suggested a different approach, advocating for understanding and prayer rather than punishment.
“In 2026, we shall remove this Anti-Homosexuality Act. They are sick people, but since the Creator made them… what do we do? Even kiboko might not work. We shall pray for them,” Muhoozi stated.
The anti-LGBTQ law, signed by President Museveni in May 2023 after gaining overwhelming parliamentary approval, introduced harsh penalties, including the death penalty for severe cases of homosexuality.
This drew significant backlash from Western nations, human rights groups, and global organizations.
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While same-sex relationships were already outlawed in Uganda, the new legislation imposed even stricter measures, such as capital punishment for repeat offenders or those involved in the transmission of terminal illnesses like HIV/AIDS.
It also enforced a 20-year prison sentence for promoting homosexuality.
The law faced legal challenges but was upheld by Uganda’s Constitutional Court.
In response, the World Bank suspended new financial assistance to Uganda, and the United States withdrew its preferential trade benefits for the nation. Outgoing U.S.
President Joe Biden criticized Uganda’s actions as severe human rights violations, leading to its removal from a key U.S.-Africa trade program.
Meanwhile, Museveni defended the law, arguing that it was necessary to protect traditional family values and asserting that Uganda would not be swayed by external pressure.
Muhoozi says Uganda Ready to Scrap Anti-Gay Law After Sanctions from US and World Bank
