Bugiri Municipality Member of Parliament Asuman Basalirwa, the initiator of the Anti-Homosexuality Act, has refuted recent statements made by National Unity Platform (NUP) party President Robert Kyagulanyi.
Kyagulanyi claimed that Opposition MPs were influenced by President Museveni to pass the controversial law, an assertion Basalirwa vehemently denies, stating that they required no influence from the president to pass the bill.
In a BBC interview last week, Kyagulanyi expressed his concerns about the law, contending that it was not enacted in the interest of Ugandans but rather as a tool to suppress the opposition. He further alleged collaboration between some opposition MPs and President Museveni to push the law through.
Speaking before parliament this afternoon, Basalirwa said, “It isn’t true that anybody could have used any of us to bring that piece of legislation because, in any case, it isn’t new in this Parliament. I am also aware that the forces behind promoting homosexuality are very strong. They have money and influence.”
Basalirwa urged fellow MPs to stand firm against any intimidation, acknowledging the pressure some colleagues are facing. He revealed engagement with external forces seeking allies, stating, “I know that some of our colleagues are under pressure. There is a lot of pressure, and there is a lot of intimidation. These forces from Britain, and America have come to my office, and I have engaged them; they are looking for allies.”
Earlier this week, the United States imposed a visa ban on the 348 MPs who supported the Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023. Responding to this, Speaker Anita Among expressed no regrets, thanking the President for assenting to the law. She said, “We don’t regret passing this law, and I want to thank the President for really assenting to this law. I am proud and happy with what the President did. We will continue protecting the family, protecting the rights of our children and our country, and we will not live in handouts.”
“My visa was cancelled, have I died? As I have said, so long as you don’t cancel the visa to Bukedea and Buyende, I have my home. I will go there freely,” she added.