Uganda’s “Kill the Gays” bill has passed for the second time after President Yoweri Museveni sent it back for reconsideration. The proposed law would make identifying as LGBTQ+ a crime, with “aggravated homosexuality” punishable by death and imposing a life sentence for “recruitment, promotion and funding” of same-sex “activities.” The bill has received overwhelming support from Parliament, with one lawmaker even advocating for the castration of queer men to prevent them from having sex in prison.
Recently, out MSNBC host Rachel Maddow discussed the connection between U.S. anti-LGBTQ+ Christian activists and the Uganda law. Maddow highlighted the group Family Watch International, an SPLC-designated hate group based in Arizona that pushed for extreme measures in that state, including a bill to ban discussions of LGBTQ+ people in schools. Maddow pointed out the close ties between Family Watch International and Uganda, like Family Watch International President Sharon Slater’s close relationship with Museveni’s wife Janet Museveni and Uganda MP Martin Ssempa, one of the most enthusiastic supporters of the Kill the Gays bill.
“In March of this year, just weeks ago, this Arizona group was one of the key organizers of a conference in Uganda that hosted lawmakers, that hosted elected officials from more than a dozen countries in Africa,” Maddow said. “Lawmakers from more than a dozen countries gathered in Uganda and promised that in their home countries, they would push legislation against the ‘sin of homosexuality.’”
Although Museveni’s statement praised the rejection of foreign pressure, the bill has partly been influenced by U.S. activists, as revealed by Maddow’s segment. This highlights the continued struggle for LGBTQ+ rights in Uganda, and the impact of international actors on the country’s laws and politics. As the bill passes for the second time, the LGBTQ+ community in Uganda and around the world must continue to push for equality and recognition.