Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has
shelved an anti-gay law as he seeks advice from American scientists
on the causes of homosexuality.
The measure, approved by lawmakers on
December 20, was first introduced in 2009 and drew international
condemnation for including the death penalty. The bill as passed
replaces capital punishment with life imprisonment for people
repeatedly convicted of having consensual sex with a member of the
same sex. The sentence can also be imposed in cases where one of the
partners is HIV-positive, a minor or disabled. The bill also seeks
to outlaw the promotion of homosexuality, effectively silencing
opponents of the measure.
Museveni at first said that he
disagreed with the bill, saying he wanted to hear from scientists
before deciding whether he would sign it. Last weekend, at a
parliamentary retreat, he announced that a report prepared by Ugandan
scientists had convinced him that being gay was a choice and that he
would sign the legislation, a move criticized by U.S. President
Barack Obama as “complicating” the U.S.'s relationship with the African
nation.
“I therefore encourage the US
government to help us by working with our scientists to study
whether, indeed, there are people who are born homosexual,”
Museveni is quoted as saying by The
Guardian. “When that is proved, we can review this
legislation.”
Still, Museveni echoed the unsupported
claims of anti-gay activists: “Africans do not seek to impose their
views on anybody. We do not want anybody to impose their views on
us. This very debate was provoked by western groups who come to our
schools and try to recruit children into homosexuality.”