The Ugandan parliament has passed a new bill that imposes harsh penalties on individuals who identify as gay, including imprisonment and, in some cases, the death penalty.
The bill has sparked fear among the LGBTQ+ community, with reports of blackmail and attacks on gay individuals.
The legislation is one of the strictest anti-gay laws in Africa, and it criminalizes various new offenses, including identifying as gay and failing to report same-sex relationships to authorities.
The bill has been condemned by human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, which has criticized it for institutionalizing discrimination and prejudice against LGBTQ+ individuals and blocking the legitimate work of civil society and public health professionals.
In Mauritania, Sudan, and parts of Nigeria and Somalia, homosexuality is punishable by death.
In other countries, such as Uganda, Tanzania, and Ghana, individuals can face imprisonment for engaging in same-sex relationships or advocating for LGBTQ+ rights.