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Accordia Global Health Foundation Condemns Uganda's Draft Anti-Homosexuality Bill

December 23, 2009, Washington, DC: For over two decades, Uganda has led sub-Saharan African nations in the fight against HIV/AIDS and has been recognized by the international community as a model of success and progress. This success has been attributed to many factors, not the least of which has been strong political leadership and commitment. However, draft legislation introduced in October in Uganda's parliament will reduce Uganda's ability to successfully fight HIV/AIDS and may jeopardize the gains that have been made. The legislation should be withdrawn immediately.

Existing Ugandan law outlaws homosexuality; the proposed legislation would require anyone who knows of people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender to report them within 24 hours to the police or face prison terms and fines of up to three years themselves. Further, groups convicted of discussing homosexuality would also face fines and prison sentences for their members. The death penalty would be required for an HIV-positive man who is proven to have had sex with another man.

Further criminalizing the homosexual population and imposing a reporting burden on healthcare workers and other citizens will not reduce the risk of HIV/AIDS; it will intensify it. The proposed law is likely to increase already prevalent stigma and may create a disincentive for Ugandans to be tested for the disease, learn about effective strategies to avoid contracting it, and access treatment.

Accordia Global Health Foundation strongly urges the Ugandan parliament to withdraw this bill from consideration immediately, for the benefit of all of Uganda’s citizens.

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To read an article in the Huffington Post on this issue authored by Accordia board member Ambassador Mark Dybul, click here.
 

UPDATE - May 10, 2010: Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni convened a special committee to examine the anti-homosexuality bill. The committee has recommended that the bill should be withdrawn from Parliament. Click here to read more.