How The New Anti-Gay Law Cost Uganda

The Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2023 has President Yoweri Museveni’s approval, but its effects are anticipated to have a substantial influence on Uganda’s economy and access to healthcare for those living with HIV/Aids.

Anita Annet Among, the speaker of parliament, declared on Twitter on May 29, 2023, that Museveni had approved the legislation.

Julius Mukunda, the executive director of the Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG), expressed worry about the law’s negative consequences on the economy. Mukunda emphasized its possible effects on the financing of Uganda’s budget, which is financed in part by debt, with the European Union (EU) and the United States providing the majority of the concessional loans.

Questions about alternate finance methods for Uganda’s national development plan agenda are raised by the passage of such a law.

The economy will be severely impacted by this law, according to Mukunda.

Mukunda pointed out that the bill is likely to have an impact on how Uganda’s budget is financed. “Debt is used to finance half of the federal budget. These concessional loans are primarily coming from the US and the European Union (EU). This law forces us to consider if we have a backup plan to pay for the goals of our national development plan.

Uganda expects to borrow around Shs 6.16 trillion in addition to income receipts to cover its Shs 52 trillion budget, according to the budget committee report that was just passed.

LOSS OF PROFITS AND DONATIONS

Mukunda also cautioned that the health sector’s reliance on contributions and the export of goods could result in a loss of money for Uganda. Through agencies like USAID, the EU and the US provide almost 50% of Uganda’s health expenditure.

Major export markets for Uganda are the same nations. For instance, coffee from Uganda is shipped to the European Union for almost $800 million. The growers would bear the costs if the EU refused to sell Ugandan coffee on its market.

The USA is the greatest single donor to Uganda’s health sector, contributing 32% of the nation’s yearly health spending and 76% of all foreign contributions to the sector, according to a statement from July 2020 posted on the USA embassy website.

The United States has committed around $39 million through USAID over the course of six years to building a solid system for controlling the flow of crucial drugs and medical supplies.

Unnamed tour company voiced worry that the new regulation would have a negative impact on travel to Uganda. The owner stressed the need for better public relations techniques and questioned the appropriateness of approving such a regulation at a time when the economy is predicted to be strong.

As plans are made for the December to January timeframe, the months of June through September are considered to be the main travel season. Uganda must reevaluate its strategy and approach in order to lessen the effects of tourist cancellations.

“As a nation, we have struggled to manage our public relations well. How can you approve of such a law while we hope to conduct business? As we get ready for December and January, June to September is a busy time. As guests cancel reservations, we must return to the drawing board and strategize, the tour operator declared.

Based on his experiences while visiting the West, attorney Andrew Karamagi noted that the anti-homosexual law’s adoption would probably result in bad press in the media and public conversation. He emphasized that such unfavorable exposure can affect how people view Uganda as a travel destination.

Karamagi also advocated for the necessity to examine historical visitation data and contrast it with data collected after Uganda’s anti-homosexual statute was passed.

Speaker Among’s American travel visa had been withdrawn, according to Asuman Basalirwa, a member of parliament for Bugiri Municipality, who was speaking to media on Monday, May 29, 2023. Basalirwa acknowledged that a nation has the right to run its own affairs and revoke visas if they see fit.

Due to Uganda’s position on the law, he argued against holding the US or the UK responsible for visa cancellations. Instead, in order to highlight the issue of selective targeting, he recommended that if visas were to be revoked, they should also apply to the president and all MPs save two.

“I have no issue with how a nation conducts its business. They have the right to reject our presence in their countries. I don’t want anyone to hold America or the UK responsible if visas are canceled as a result of this stance. Their right to do so. I won’t hold it against any embassy if it cancels someone’s visa. Single picking is the only issue I have with these guys. The president of Uganda signed this law; may I kindly request that America and the other countries revoke the visas of the president and all MPs save for the two? All MPs’ visas should be revoked, he exclaimed.

The UNAIDS communications manager, Sophie Barton-Knott, stressed that UNAIDS is still dedicated to assisting the people of Uganda in their fight against HIV/AIDS despite the suspension of aid to that country.

She admitted that the law would make it more difficult to receive services and would impede the fight against AIDS, but she made it clear that UNAIDS had not suggested completely cutting off funds. However, the effects of the law surely would restrict the efficiency of the HIV response.

“UNAIDS is committed to assisting the Ugandan people in their efforts to put an end to AIDS. We draw attention to the fact that this law will hinder the fight against AIDS and erect barriers to accessing services. UNAIDS has never mentioned quitting. Because of this law, the Aids response will be far less effective, she claimed.

ELECTORAL THEATRE

Karamagi saw the new law as a political show that deflects focus away from important issues like living standards, cost of living, and the provision of public services. He stressed the need to concentrate on more essential issues rather than participating in a pointless argument about people’s sexual orientations and claimed that the current situation of the Ugandan government would prevent the proper execution of such a law.

“To begin with, the degraded status of Uganda prevents the proper implementation of such a law. Instead than asking who slept with whom and how, Ugandans should ignore this distraction and focus on the vital issues. Existing legislation already addresses sexual offenses. No need to engage in this pointless discussion, he said.

The heads of the Global Fund, UNAIDS, and PEPFAR issued a joint statement in which they voiced their deep worry over the effect of the law on Uganda’s HIV/Aids response. They emphasized how the Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023 will obstruct public health outreach and education, leading in less access to services for prevention and treatment.

Because of the stigma and discrimination connected with the law, LGBTQI+ people already experience safety concerns and are dissuaded from accessing necessary medical care because they run the danger of being attacked, punished, and more marginalized.

But Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, the minister of health, publicly praised the president and the Ugandan populace for supporting the legislation, saying it respects Ugandan tradition and dignity and safeguards the nation’s children.

On March 21, 2023, the law was first approved by the legislature; however, President Museveni later ordered its return to the house.

The Anti-Homosexuality Bill, 2023 was approved by parliament on May 2, 2023, with five clauses modified in response to President Museveni’s suggestions. The president stressed the need for clarity in the law, saying that it seeks to penalize behaviors rather than the condition of having a deviant tendency or encouraging it.

The chair of the committee on legal and parliamentary affairs, Robina Rwakoojo, emphasized the necessity of amending clauses 2 and 3 of the bill throughout this process in order to make the law’s objective and purpose more clear. Instead than punishing people based on their perceived sexuality or outward appearance, the goal was to make it illegal for people of the same sex to engage in sexual activity with one another.

Actors rush to court.

Professor Sylvia Tamale and eleven other campaigners, led by Andrew Mwenda, have asked the Constitutional Court to grant a permanent injunction blocking the enforcement of the law.

They assert that Anita Among, the bill’s speaker during the discussion and vote, was biased. They contend that her actions were against articles 20, 89(1), and (2) of the Constitution. The protection and advancement of fundamental and other human rights and freedoms are supported by Article 20.