London Protest to Be Held Against Uganda’s Homosexuality Bill

The Gay Activists Alliance International (GAAI) has announced that a protest will be held on Thursday (10th December) from 12 -2 pm outside the Ugandan High Commission in Trafalgar Square.

Supported by Gay Uganda, Sexual Minorities Uganda and OutRage!, the demonstration is being put on to protest against the proposed law by the Ugandan government that would see homosexuals at best jailed, and at worst executed.

The co founder of the GAAI, Davis Mac-Iyallam will be speaking at the event, alongside Peter Tatchell of Outrage and Skye Chirape. It is also hoped that the gay Ugandan, John Bosco Nyombi, who was granted asylum in the UK, will also be able to attend.

In speaking about the proposed law, Tatchell highlighted that it has a huge impact not only for homosexuals within the country, but also abroad and those aiming to help the community with “(m)embership of LGBT organisations and funding for them, advocacy of LGBT human rights and the provision of condoms or safer sex advice to LGBT people will result in a minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of seven years for “promoting” homosexuality. A person in authority who fails to report violators to the police within 24 hours will incur three years behind bars… Astonishingly, the new legislation has an extra-territorial jusridiction. It will also apply to Ugandans who commit these ‘crimes’ while living abroad, in countries where such behaviour is not a criminal offence. Violators overseas will be subjected to extradition, trial and punishment in Uganda”.

If you are not able to attend the protest then it is being requested that you lobby both your MP and MEP to urge the Ugandan High Commissioner, Joan Rwabyomere, to not go ahead with the legislation. You can also email the Ugandan High Commissioner yourself at emailto:info@ugandahighcommission.co.uk