KAMPALA — Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni is to sign into law a
controversial bill that will see homosexuals jailed for life, despite
international pressure, a government spokesman said on Monday.
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| President Yoweri Museveni |
Confirmation
of the decision, made after "local scientific" analysis of the issue,
came as US President Barack Obama warned Mr Museveni that the
legislation was a "step backwards" that would complicate ties between
Washington and Kampala.
"He will ascend the bill. This bill is
very popular both within the parliament and Ugandan society. The
president is under strong domestic pressure to sign the bill," Ofwono
Opondo said.
The Ugandan antigay bill cruised through parliament
in December after its architects agreed to drop a controversial death
penalty clause, although the bill still says that repeat homosexuals
should be jailed for life, outlaws the promotion of homosexuality and
requires people to denounce gays.
Mr Museveni, a key African ally
of the US and the European Union, has already been under fire from key
western donors over alleged rampant corruption, and had been under
pressure from diplomats and rights groups to block the legislation.
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