June 20th 2023.
The United States has taken action against Uganda officials after the African nation passed a highly controversial law against the LGBTQ+ community. The law was passed in May and carries the death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality", which includes transmitting HIV through gay sex. The international community, including the United Nations, has strongly condemned the law.
In response, President Joe Biden has threatened aid cuts and other sanctions, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said the government would consider visa restrictions against Ugandan officials. The United States has now imposed such restrictions, without mentioning the number of officials or their names. This is to hold accountable those responsible for human rights abuses in Uganda, including those of LGBTQI+ persons.
The State Department has also updated its travel guidance for U.S. citizens, warning them of the risks they may face if they are prosecuted on the basis of the provisions in the law. These punishments include life imprisonment or the death penalty.
The U.S. also released a statement expressing its commitment to advancing respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in Uganda and globally. The controversial law also imposes a life sentence for same-sex intercourse and a 20-year sentence for promotion of homosexuality. Additionally, firms that knowingly promote LGBTQ activity will be subject to harsh fines.
Prior to the law, homosexual activity was already illegal in the conservative and highly religious East African country. Homosexuals faced ostracism and harassment by security forces, and the new bill proposed in Uganda only exacerbates the situation with severe penalties to members of the LGBTQ+ community, including death and life prison sentences.
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