One month on, Anti-Homosexuality law yet to bite 

On May 26, 2023, President Museveni signed the Anti-Homosexuality bill into law, thereby criminalizing LGBT activities.

Under the new Anti-Homosexuality Act, it is an offense to groom or traffic children for purposes of engaging them in homosexuality and individuals or institutions which support or fund LGBT rights’ activities face prosecution and imprisonment. 

During debate on the bill, one of the most contentious issues was the purported recruitment of people, especially minors, into gay activities. Emotions ran high, fueled by passionate pleas from both sides of the argument.

Supporters of the Act argued that it was crucial to protect the moral fabric of Ugandan society, particularly its youth. Asuman Basalirwa, the architect of the bill, painted a vivid picture of a network that clandestinely seduces young minds into the world of homosexuality.

Fueled by these concerns, the Act was passed amid cheers and applause, heralding a new era of strict regulations and penalties for homosexual acts. However, one month into the law, the biggest concern among sexual offenses seems to be the rising cases of defilement and rape.

Statistics compiled from police’s four weekly press conferences in the month of June show a total of 51 defilement cases reported. In fact, the annual police report for 2022 showed that sex-related offenses like rape and defilement ranked fourth in the most committed crimes with 16,373 cases reported in the year. 

Interviewed for this story, Patrick Onyango, the Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, said they are yet to receive any complaint related to recruitment into homosexuality. 

“I cannot rule out that recruitment into gay activists doesn’t exist but we are yet to record any complaints,” he said.

Meanwhile, pastor Solomon Male, a long-time critic of homosexuality and the leader of the National Coalition Against Homosexuality and Sexual Abuses in Uganda said the new law against homosexuality doesn’t solve homosexuality and that many lawmakers passed it for political mileage after failing elsewhere to meet their electorates’ expectations.

“Many are mired in scandals, and the legislation provided a good cover-up. And many people peddled it neither knew its contents nor its implications. Very few cared to listen to voices of reason,” he said.

“The law was driven by populism, opportunism, and hypocrisy and accepted by the masses because of ignorance. There were better laws in the Penal Code if they can only be enforced.”