Ugandan President Defies Calls To Repeal Anti-LGBTQ Law

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has defied calls to repeal an anti-LGBTQ law he signed this week. The law, which was passed by the Ugandan parliament in December, imposes a life sentence on anyone convicted of “aggravated homosexuality.”

In a statement, Museveni said that the law was “a done deal” and that “no one will change our action.” He also warned that Uganda was “ready for war” if the international community continued to pressure the country to repeal the law.

The law has been met with widespread criticism from Western nations and human rights groups. US President Joe Biden called the law “an appalling violation of human rights for all” and said that the US was considering sanctions against Uganda. The European Union and the head of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, have also condemned the law.

Museveni, who has been in power for 35 years, has a history of making anti-LGBTQ statements. In 2014, he said that LGBTQ people should be “burned alive.”

The new law has sparked fears of a crackdown on LGBTQ people in Uganda. Human rights groups have warned that the law could lead to violence and discrimination against LGBTQ people.

It remains to be seen how the international community will respond to Museveni’s defiance. The US and the EU have said that they are considering sanctions against Uganda, but it is unclear if they will follow through on these threats.

The situation in Uganda is a reminder of the challenges facing LGBTQ people around the world. Despite progress in some countries, there are still many places where LGBTQ people are persecuted and discriminated against.