Bahati — ‘Kill the Gays Bill’ will be acted on soon

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David Bahati (Photo courtesy of NTV. Click photo for video)

Ugandan member of parliament David Bahati says he has been assured that his Anti-Homosexuality Bill will be acted upon in the upcoming session of the Ugandan parliament, due to reconvene next week.

In an interview with NTV, Bahati said that Stephen Tashobya, chairman of the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs committee, told him the bill won’t be left on the sidelines.

“We have been assured by Honorable Tashobya that he is going to work on this bill in this coming session,” Bahati said.

Bahati first introduced the bill in 2009, but it did not emerge from committee. He then re-introduced it this year. The bill’s first reading in the current parliament was on Feb. 12.

Last year, the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs committee prepared a report on the bill and recommended passage with minor changes.

Bahati says current Ugandan laws about homosexuality are too weak.

In its original form, the bill provided for the death penalty for repeated homosexual activity — a provision that may or may not have been removed. Because of that provision, the bill is known as the “Kill the Gays Bill.”

The bill also would require people to report suspected homosexuals to police or face criminal action themselves. That would apply to medical professionals and to parents whose children are homosexual.

Under current Ugandan law, homosexual activity can be punished by imprisonment for life.