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Uganda Admits Being Extorted by the West for Passing the Death Penalty for LGBT. PHOTO/Reuters
KAMPALA – Uganda condemned the Western response to the new anti- LGBTQ the East African country. Uganda called threats of sanctions from donors tantamount to “blackmail”.
The law, signed by President Yoweri Museveni, contains the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality”, an offense which includes the transmission of HIV through same-sex sex.
The passing of the law earlier this week drew an immediate rebuke from Western governments and jeopardized part of the billions of dollars in foreign aid Uganda receives each year.
President of the United States (US) Joe Biden threatens to cut aid and other sanctions. Meanwhile Foreign Minister Antony Blinken said the government would consider limiting visas for Ugandan officials.
The European Union’s head of foreign policy, Josep Borrell, said the law would impact Uganda’s relations with international partners.
In the Ugandan government’s first detailed comments since Museveni signed the law, Information Minister Chris Baryomunsi dismissed the criticism.
“We don’t consider homosexuality a constitutional right. It’s just a sexual perversion that we don’t promote as Ugandans and Africans,” he told Reuters on Tuesday (30/5/2023).
“While we appreciate the support we get from partners, they should be reminded that we are a sovereign nation and we do not make laws for the Western world. We make laws for our own people here in Uganda. So such extortion is unacceptable.”
