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Uganda gay bill 'will be changed'
05
Feb 2010- Uganda's controversial Anti-Homosexuality Bill is likely to be
changed, a minister has told the BBC. However, Deputy Foreign Minister Henry
Okello Oryem did not give details of how he thought the final bill would be
different to the current proposals.
Uganda has come under intense international pressure over the bill, which
provides for the death penalty for some homosexual acts.
Mr
Oryem was speaking after US leader Barack Obama called the bill "odious". It has
also been condemned by various European countries.
"I am
sure the bill will take a different form when it is tabled on the floor in
parliament," Mr Oryem told the BBC's Network Africa programme.
However, he also pointed out that it was a Private Member's Bill and so the
government did not have the powers to alter it at this stage. "Homosexuality is
not a top priority for the people of Uganda," he deputy minister said.
"Our
priority is to make sure there is food on the table of our people - that we deal
with the issue of disease."
Homosexual acts are already illegal in Uganda and punishable by up to 14 years
in prison. The bill would raise that penalty to life in prison.
It
also proposes the death penalty for a new offence of "aggravated homosexuality"
- defined as when one of the participants is a minor, HIV-positive, disabled or
a "serial offender".
Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has already distanced himself from the bill,
saying it did not represent the views of his government.
Two
weeks ago its sponsor, David Bahati, told a Ugandan newspaper he was willing to
"amend some clauses". The cabinet has set up a committee to look at his
proposals.
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