Gay Rights Activists Ask Speaker Anita Among To Be Banned From Visiting UK

Activists advocating for LGBTQ+ rights in both the United Kingdom and Uganda are collaborating to urge the British government to reconsider the visa approval for Anita Annet Among, the Speaker of Uganda’s Parliament, who is slated to attend the 75th anniversary of the Commonwealth in the UK. Prominent LGBTQ+ campaigner Peter Tatchell, Director of the Peter Tatchell Foundation, has been in communication with UK authorities, stressing the importance of preventing Speaker Among’s entry due to her endorsement of a new Ugandan law that imposes severe penalties, including execution, for certain consenting same-sex acts.

In a meeting with Lindsay Hoyle, the Speaker of the House of Commons, Tatchell appealed to UK Home Secretary James Cleverly to bar Speaker Among from entry, pointing out the violation of values such as respect, tolerance, equality, and human rights. Tatchell contends that Among’s presence could disrupt public order, community relations, and the overall public good.

Tatchell, acting on behalf of Ugandan LGBTQ+ campaigners, expressed appreciation to Speaker Hoyle for acknowledging their concerns and committing to take action against a politician who supports the persecution of LGBTQ+ individuals. The advocacy centers around Anita Among’s role in promoting Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA), 2023, colloquially known as the “Kill the Gays” law.

In a letter to Speaker Hoyle, Tatchell emphasizes the severity of Uganda’s AHA, which mandates life imprisonment for consenting same-sex acts and the death penalty for repeat offenders and elderly LGBTQ+ couples. The letter calls for the UK to deny entry to Speaker Among, asserting that hosting her would signal tolerance for extreme homophobia.

Tatchell underscores the importance of UK authorities resisting collaboration with a politician associated with such draconian legislation. He invites Speaker Hoyle to advocate for Anita Among’s exclusion based on her opposition to British values of respect and equality, arguing that her presence would be detrimental to public order, community relations, and the public good.

The article highlights the uncertainty surrounding Speaker Among and her deputy’s visa applications for the Commonwealth anniversary events. Attempts to contact Speaker Among’s representatives in Uganda were unsuccessful, leaving the situation in question.

The piece concludes by posing the question of whether the British government will succumb to pressure and deny Speaker Among her visa, citing a precedent set by the United States Embassy in revoking her visa following the enactment of Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act in 2023.

Since the passage of the AHA, reports from Ugandan LGBTQ+ rights organizations indicate a distressing surge in violence and discrimination against the community, fostering an environment of fear and persecution. Despite legal challenges faced by the AHA, its impact on the Ugandan LGBTQ+ community remains severe, leaving lasting trauma even if the law is eventually rescinded.

Rights groups are presently challenging one of the most stringent anti-homosexuality laws in Uganda through the country’s judicial system. The global community has expressed widespread condemnation, resulting in actions such as the World Bank suspending new loans to Uganda and the US imposing visa restrictions on key officials.

Enacted in May, this controversial law mandates life imprisonment for individuals convicted of engaging in homosexual acts. Advocacy organizations are urging judges to invalidate the law, asserting that it infringes upon the right to equality and dignity.

Referred to as the Anti-Homosexuality Act, this legislation goes to the extreme of imposing the death penalty for “aggravated” cases. These include scenarios like engaging in gay sex with an individual below the age of 18 or with someone afflicted by a lifelong illness such as HIV. The law received overwhelming support from lawmakers and came into effect after approval by President Yoweri Museveni.

The Constitutional Court is currently the battleground for this legal showdown, with the government defending the law by emphasizing its protection of traditional family values. In August, the first individual was charged with “aggravated homosexuality,” involving alleged unlawful sexual intercourse with a 41-year-old. The case, expected to be heard in the High Court due to its gravity, lacks detailed information.

While Uganda has not executed anyone since 2005, the situation remains dire for the LGBTQ+ community. A recent report by rights groups documented over 300 human rights abuses against LGBTQ+ individuals in the first eight months of the year. These abuses include beatings, torture, arrests, and forced evictions.

The United States, in response to the contentious legislation, announced that Ugandan goods will lose preferential access to its markets from the following year due to the country’s human rights record. Despite international pressure, Uganda’s government remains steadfast, refusing to yield to external influence.

Uganda’s societal conservatism plays a significant role in sustaining support for the legislation among its people, even in the face of global criticism.

The Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2023 has received unanimous approval from the parliamentary body, marking a significant legislative development. This groundbreaking legislation imposes a stringent 20-year jail sentence for individuals involved in acts of homosexuality. Furthermore, the bill, if granted presidential assent, introduces the grave consequence of a death penalty for those found guilty of engaging in aggravated homosexuality.

On the pivotal day of Tuesday, 21st March 2023, Parliament decisively passed this bill, setting the stage for potential sweeping changes in the legal landscape. The proposed law, having been introduced as a Private Member’s Bill by the esteemed Bugiri Municipality Member of Parliament, Hon. Asuman Basalirwa, on 9th March 2023, now awaits the crucial endorsement from the President to become an enforceable statute.

The gravity of this legislative move cannot be understated, as it not only addresses the punishment for acts of homosexuality but also introduces severe consequences for aggravated cases. This development reflects the collective stance of the parliamentary body and raises pertinent questions about the societal attitudes towards homosexuality within the legislative framework. The implications of this bill, if enacted into law, will undoubtedly spark discussions on human rights, ethical considerations, and the broader implications for the affected individuals.

As the nation awaits the President’s decision on the bill, the public discourse surrounding this legislation is likely to intensify, with various stakeholders expressing their opinions on the potential impact on the LGBTQ+ community and the overall human rights landscape. The Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2023, with its far-reaching consequences, stands as a testament to the ongoing societal debates surrounding personal freedoms and the limits of legislative intervention in private matters.