Africa (Commonwealth Union) _ On Monday, the United States issued a business advisory for Uganda, cautioning businesses about potential risks in the African nation due to an anti-LGBTQ law that has faced widespread condemnation. The advisory, jointly issued by the U.S. Departments of State, Labor, Health and Human Services, Commerce, and the U.S. Agency for International Development, specifically addresses Uganda’s stringent anti-LGBTQ law enacted in May.
This law, considered one of the harshest globally, introduces the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality,” which includes transmitting HIV through gay sex. Western governments, including the United States, strongly criticized the law, jeopardizing billions of dollars in foreign aid that Uganda receives annually.
The law imposes severe penalties, including harsh fines for firms, media, and non-governmental organizations promoting LGBTQ activities. Same-sex intercourse is punishable by life imprisonment, while the promotion of homosexuality carries a 20-year sentence.
The U.S. government’s business advisory underscores that Uganda’s enactment of the Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA) exacerbates restrictions on human rights, impacting freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly. It also raises concerns about the respect for leases and employment contracts.
In response to the law, the U.S. State Department imposed visa restrictions on Ugandan officials in June. Additionally, the State Department updated its travel guidance for U.S. citizens traveling to Uganda, emphasizing the risks faced by LGBTQ individuals who could be prosecuted and subjected to life imprisonment or the death penalty under the provisions of the law.
Rights groups have reported a surge in abuse against LGBTQ people in Uganda since the enactment of the law, primarily by private individuals. The broader implications of the law, both on human rights and the business environment, are significant and have prompted the United States to issue this advisory.
