Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has
reportedly agreed to sign an anti-gay bill approved by lawmakers.
According to the AP, a government
spokesperson announced the decision.
Ofwono Opondo messaged Friday on
Twitter that legislators, who are holding a parliamentary retreat
overseen by Museveni, “welcomed the development as a measure to
protect Ugandans from social deviants.”
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 had previously refused to sign
the bill into law, saying that he believes gays people should be
“rehabilitated,” and asked for scientific proof that being gay is
not “a genetic condition.”
A report prepared by more than a dozen
scientists from Uganda's Health Ministry was presented to Museveni at
the retreat.
A government spokesperson told
the AP that the report convinced Museveni that gays should be
punished.
Dr. Kenneth Omona told Uganda daily the
Observer
that the report asserts that half of gay people can be turned
straight.
“One study revealed that actually 50
percent of the homosexuals revert to heterosexuality if rehabilitated
in time. This, in itself, reveals a behavioral aspect,” he told
the paper.