Federal Development Minister Svenja Schulze (SPD) is considering the consequences of a draconian tightening of the anti-homosexual law in the East African state of Uganda. Under this law, anyone who does not identify as heterosexual can be punished. The law even provides for the death penalty for “aggravated forms of homosexuality”.
After the Ugandan parliament has already passed the law, President Yoweri Museveni still has to enact it – which Western governments want to prevent. A spokesman for the development minister explained that close contact has been maintained with the affected people in Uganda for a long time and that the situation is being observed with great concern. “We will closely coordinate possible reactions in the donor group and in the EU,” the spokesman told the “Spiegel”.
The Ugandan government is aware of the position of the federal government. “The impairment of social groups is the subject of our talks with Ugandan government and parliamentary representatives,” the ministry spokesman continued. The development ministry works with civil society, also to strengthen their political participation.
The new law in Uganda provides for prison sentences of up to 20 years for same-sex sexual acts. People who do not report homosexual acts are also threatened with imprisonment or fines. According to activists, doctors, landlords and friends of LGBTQ people would also be affected by the tightening of the law in Uganda. (Tsp)
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