Following the debate which was held on the same day, Parliament adopted a resolution on Uganda: the so-called ‘Bahati bill’ and discrimination against the LGBT population.
The text adopted in plenary was tabled as a joint resolution by the EPP, S&D, ALDE, Greens/EFA, ECR and GUE/NGL.
The Anti-Homosexuality Bill tabled by private Member David Bahati MP on 25 September 2009 before the Ugandan Parliament foresees the punishment of homosexual acts by imprisonment between seven years and life as well as the death penalty. The Bill foresees the punishment of a failure to disclose a child's or patient's homosexuality by up to three years’ imprisonment.
The international community at large has strongly condemned the proposed law, with some EU Member States threatening to revoke their development aid to Uganda should this bill pass into law.
Members reiterate the fact that sexual orientation is a matter falling within the sphere of the individual right to privacy as guaranteed by international human rights law, according to which equality and non-discrimination should be protected, whilst freedom of expression should be guaranteed. Reiterating its commitment to universal human rights, Parliament denounces any attempt to incite hatred and advocate violence towards any minority group, including on grounds of sex or sexual orientation.
In this context, Parliament condemns the tabling of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill in Parliament and urges the Ugandan authorities not to approve the Bill but to review their laws so as to decriminalise homosexuality and decriminalise marginalised groups, including LGBT activists. It underlines that an anti-homosexuality law would be extremely detrimental in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Lastly, once again Parliament strongly rejects any moves to introduce the use of the death penalty under any circumstances and extradition procedures for Ugandan citizens who perform homosexual acts abroad.