The Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga
Uganda’s Speaker of Parliament Hon. Rebecca Kadaga has told a group of Ugandans who petitioned parliament over the nullified anti-gay law that it will be re-tabled in the August House.
Kadaga gave this assurance on Monday after meeting the petitioners at parliament in the Ugandan capital, Kampala.
“Now that we have the 207 signatures, the rest is going to be smooth” Kadaga said.
The Petitioners want the Anti Homosexuality Bill be re-tabled and passed into a law as soon as possible.
Uganda’s Constitutional Court on August 1 2014 annulled the anti-gay legislation signed into law in February.
It ruled that the bill was passed by MPs in December without the requisite quorum and was therefore illegal.
Referring to court’s ruling, Kadaga said “It was not heard on merit. It was never heard on merit” in response to court nullifying Anti-Homosexuality Act”
Homosexual acts were already illegal, but the new law allowed for life imprisonment for “aggravated homosexuality” and banned the “promotion of homosexuality”.
“We believe that the time is ripe for Uganda to look for genuine developmental partners who will respect our culture” the petitioners said.
MP David Bahati, the brainchild of the bill said the move to petition parliament is a way to show the world that lawmakers will be available unlike before when they fell short on numbers.
“We are going to show the whole world and Ugandans that Mps will be present to pass the Anti Homosexuality bill into law” Bahati said.
He added that “The issue of the Anti Homosexuality law is a politically charged matter, but it will be my mission to pass this law”
Several donors have cut aid to Uganda since the law was adopted.
The White House also cut funds to a number of programmes it is running with the Ugandan authorities.
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