The Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee has begun considering the Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2023, with one of the first witnesses being Bugiri Municipality MP Asuman Basalirwa, who is the sponsor of the bill.     

Basalirwa is proposing the extradition of suspects accused of engaging in acts of homosexuality or promoting the vice but who may have fled from Uganda to escape arrest and prosecution. 

The sponsor and mover of the private member's anti-homosexuality bill, Bugiri Municipality MP Asuman Basalirwa has presented the bill for consideration before the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee chaired by Gomba West MP Robinah Gureme Rwakoojo.  

Basalirwa says he has provided for a clause to have homosexuality suspects extradited, to deter perpetual offenders who will commit crimes and later flee Uganda, seeking asylum and claiming that they are being harassed for pushing for gay rights.  

Basalirwa also proposed that aggravated homosexuality be punishable by 10 years in jail. However, some MPs on the committee proposed 17 years since it encompasses minors. They say this should also cover the willful transmission of HIV/AIDs, and rape.

The bill criminalizes homosexual acts and it is punishable by a life sentence. It also provides two years for attempted homosexual acts.

Basalirwa explained that his bill intends to address the gaps in the existing laws including procurement, promotion, and dissemination of information on homosexuality.

A committee member, Fox Odoi, who is the MP for West Budama North East constituency, raised concern about some of the issues the bill may not have adequately tackled, for instance, bisexual people. He asked Basalirwa to instead propose the repeal of existing laws to merge his proposals to address the concerns on homosexuality.

Other committee members argued that the proposed law should not criminalize the ownership of brothels because they are investors.

The committee will continue to meet other stakeholders, including religious leaders to give their views on the bill.