The following editorial appeared in the Los Angeles Times:
Uganda's deplorable Anti-Homosexuality Bill has reappeared periodically for consideration by its parliament, but until now it has always been withdrawn. Last week, it was approved and awaits the president's signature. That's very bad news.
It is already illegal in Uganda for men to engage in sexual relations with other men. But the proposed law strengthens and clarifies the prohibition, setting a 14-year jail term for a first conviction and "imprisonment for life for the offense of aggravated homosexuality." What's more, the new bill is believed to extend that penalty to women who have same-sex relations. The full text has not yet been released.
The bill also would criminalize the "promotion or recognition" of homosexuality, which human rights groups say could be interpreted as barring the activities of organizations that advocate for gay rights or even those that offer health services to lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender individuals.
The parliament said the government needed to toughen existing laws to protect young people who might be vulnerable "to sexual abuse and deviations as a result of cultural changes."
The original 2009 version of the bill would have subjected repeat offenders to the death penalty. After an international outcry, that was downgraded to life imprisonment.
Either penalty qualifies as outrageous. Homosexuality is frowned on in many parts of Africa; about 30 other African countries outlaw it in one way or another. The Ugandan bill is particularly harsh and belligerent. It institutionalizes the harassment of gay people and the violation of their human rights.
The bill can still be stopped. Uganda's president, Yoweri Museveni, should veto it. And then the Ugandan parliament should drop its effort to recycle it.