U.S reveals real reason for sanctioning Among, other Ugandan officials

Washington, (DC):- The United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken has said the US slapped sanctions on Ugandan officials including Speaker Rt Hon Anita Among in May this year for reasons surrounding the Anti-Homosexuality law.

While speaking at the 2024 Pride Month Convening on U.S. Foreign Policy in Washington, DC on Thursday, Blinked said; “Where human rights abuses are carried out against LGBTQI+ persons, we hold the perpetrators accountable.”

Blinken’s remarks come as the first time a high-ranking U.S. government official is admitting that the recent sanctions against Ugandan government officials were a penalty for passing the Anti-homosexuality law which criminalises homosexuality, its recognition, promotion, financing and normalisation.

However, Blinken said, “We sanctioned Ugandan officials who were involved in gross human rights violations. We ended Uganda’s eligibility for beneficial trade status under the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act until – until – it repeals the legislation and addresses its human rights situation.”

“When Uganda enacted its Anti-Homosexuality Act, we redirected U.S. Government assistance so that it doesn’t go to those carrying out this abusive policy, while at the same time increasing aid to Ugandan people who need it more than ever before in the LGBTQI+ community.”

The event in Washington was held under the theme, ‘National Security, Inclusive Development, and the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Persons.’

Blinken said the United States remained “committed to partnering with the people of Ugandan, as we’ve done for years with investments in improving healthcare and education, expanding economic opportunity, strengthening accountability and the rule of law.”

He said Washington would “make sure that our resources continue to lift up the Ugandan people – not enable their repression.”

The Anti-Gay Law

In 2023, the Parliament of Uganda passed the Anti-Homosexuality Act following what Parliament described as a public outcry, social and broadcast media discussions and homosexuality victims’ ‘painful and gruelling stories’ of children and families that were ‘dying in silence’ from the psychological trauma of forced recruitment of children into homosexual acts.

The law was challenged in the Constitutional Court by activist and lobby groups, saying it violated the rights of the homosexuality community.

The Constitutional Court maintained the provision for the death penalty for a person who commits the offence of aggravated homosexuality especially if the act is performed against a child or a person who is disabled, mentally ill, of advanced age or under the influence of medicine, drugs and alcohol.

Among unmoved

In response to the penalties slapped by the US government, Uganda’s House Speaker, Rt Hon Anita Among said she was happy that President Museveni signed the bill into law and that Parliament would continue to protect the family, the rights of children and Uganda.

“We don’t regret passing this law. My Visa was cancelled, have I died? As I have said, so long as you don’t cancel the visa to Bukedea and Buyende, I have my home. I will go there,” she said.