Fridae

The original bill, which was shelved due to international condemnation, is said to have been reintroduced on Tuesday, the BBC reported.

Above: Ugandan newspaper publishes photos of 100 'top' homosexuals

Although homosexual acts are already illegal in Uganda, the draft legislation reintroduced by Member of Parliament David Bahati – the sponsor of the controversial bill – will no longer seek the death penalty for those found guilty of "aggravated homosexuality" as originally proposed. Under the original bill, anyone who is a minor, HIV-positive, disabled or a "serial offender" may face the death penalty.

The revsised bill still seeks to criminalise the “promotion” of homosexuality, compels HIV testing in some circumstances, and imposes life sentences for entering into a same-sex marriage. It would also be an offence for a person who is aware of any violations of the bill’s wide-ranging provisions not to report them to the authorities within 24 hours. 

The bill was first introduced in 2009, but has never made it to a debate in the chamber following international media attention and condemnation by political leaders including US President Obama, US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, British Prime Minister David Cameron and others, with some threatening to cut aid to the East African nation.

Amnesty International along with other human rights organisations, which have repeatedly condemned and called for the bill to be scrapped since it was first introduced in October 2009, called on the Ugandan government to reject the revised bill.

In a statement released on Feb 8, Michelle Kagari, Deputy Africa Programme Director at Amnesty International, said: "It's alarming and disappointing that Uganda's Parliament will once again consider the Anti-Homosexuality Bill."

"If passed, it would represent a grave assault on the human rights of all Ugandans, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity."

She added, "The knock-on effect of passing this bill would reach far beyond gay and lesbian people in Uganda, impeding the legitimate work of civil society, public health professionals, and community leaders. 

"This deplorable bill would not only violate the rights of Ugandans to life, to non-discrimination, to equality before the law, and to privacy, but would sanction hatred, violence and the persecution of a group of people based on whom they love alone."

Update (Feb 10, 2012): Sign Amnesty International petition.