Winnie Byanyima, the Executive Director of UNAIDS and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, has urged President Yoweri Museveni to reconsider the anti-homosexuality law in Uganda, highlighting its potential negative impact on the country’s HIV/AIDS response.
Byanyima in a joint statement with Ambassador John Nkengasong, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy at the U.S. Department of State, emphasized that the stigma and discrimination resulting from the enactment of the law have already hindered access to prevention and treatment services.
“Uganda has consistently shown leadership and commitment in the fight against AIDS and has achieved remarkable success by ensuring inclusivity. Together, we call for a reconsideration of the Act to allow Uganda to continue its path towards equitable access to healthcare and the goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030,” reads the joint statement in part.
The statement further highlighted the importance of trust, confidentiality, and a stigma-free environment for individuals seeking healthcare. It expressed concerns that LGBTQI+ individuals in Uganda now face increased fears for their safety, leading to a growing number of people avoiding essential health services due to the risk of attack, punishment, and marginalization.
Earlier this month, the U.S. government threatened to withdraw funding for Uganda under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) if the law was enacted.
“Enacting this bill into law might impede our ability to provide life-saving prevention, care, and treatment services to all Ugandans receiving PEPFAR support,” read the statement from the U.S. State Department.
PEPFAR currently invests approximately US$400 million annually in Uganda’s HIV/AIDS response.
However, this morning, Speaker of Parliament Anita Among announced that President Museveni had signed the Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2023 into law.
“In accordance with Article 91 (3) (a) of the Constitution, His Excellency, General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the President of the Republic of Uganda, has fulfilled his constitutional duty. He has assented to the Anti-Homosexuality Act,” she declared.
Under the newly enacted law, individuals who knowingly allow their premises to be used for homosexual activities may face a prison sentence of up to seven years upon conviction. Additionally, those who possess knowledge of homosexual acts and fail to report them could be subject to a fine of Shs10 million or imprisonment for up to five years.
Aggravated homosexuality is punishable by death while promoting homosexuality carries a prison term of 20 years for individuals found guilty.