https://en.sputniknews.africa/20231207/ugandan-fm-accuses-us-of-pushing-lgbt-agenda-in-africa-after-new-round-of-sanctions-1063995825.html
Ugandan FM Accuses US of Pushing 'LGBT Agenda' in Africa After New Round of Sanctions
Ugandan FM Accuses US of Pushing 'LGBT Agenda' in Africa After New Round of Sanctions
Sputnik Africa
On Monday, the United States announced a new round of visa restrictions on Ugandan officials involved in enforcing the country's new anti-gay law, which has... 07.12.2023, Sputnik Africa
2023-12-07T11:21+0100
2023-12-07T11:21+0100
2023-12-08T10:24+0100
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The government of Uganda condemned the United States' imposition of the new round of visa restrictions on Ugandan officials and lawmakers, accusing the Western country of pushing its "LGBT agenda" in Africa.US Secretary of State Antony Blinken revealed on Monday that visas would be denied to current or former Ugandan officials, as well as their family members, if they are found to be involved in the "repression" of "marginalized or vulnerable" groups, including the LGBTQ community.The minister argued that there are other countries in the world with even "harsher" anti-gay laws than Uganda's, adding that US visa restrictions would not make Ugandan lawmakers change their minds about the law, which was passed in late May.Earlier this year, following the signing of Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Act of 2023, Washington imposed the first round of visa restrictions on Ugandan officials, and US President Joe Biden threatened aid cuts and other punitive measures against the East African country.In May, the Ugandan government faced criticism from Western leaders over its new Anti-Homosexuality Bill, which described as one of the world's harshest anti-LGBTQ laws.The law, which was signed by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni in late May, aims to protect the country's cultural, religious, and family values, according to its authors. Under the new law, promoting homosexuality could result in a 20-year prison sentence, while "aggravated" homosexuality could carry the death penalty under certain circumstances, although Uganda has not carried out the death penalty for many years.In response to Uganda's anti-homosexuality law, Washington imposed the first round of visa restrictions on officials from the African country in June. Later, the World Bank suspended loans to Uganda, saying the law "contradicted" the lender's values.* The "LGBT movement" is classified as extremist by the Russian authorities and is banned in Russia.
https://en.sputniknews.africa/20231011/which-african-countries-have-faced-western-pressure-over-anti-lgbtq-legislation-1062686093.html
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Ugandan FM Accuses US of Pushing 'LGBT Agenda' in Africa After New Round of Sanctions
11:21 07.12.2023 (Updated: 10:24 08.12.2023) Muhammad Nooh Osman
Writer/Editor
On Monday, the United States announced a new round of visa restrictions on Ugandan officials involved in enforcing the country's new anti-gay law, which has been heavily criticized by the West. The round of US visa restrictions on Ugandan officials was announced in June, days after the East African country's new anti-gay law was signed into law.
The government of Uganda condemned the United States' imposition of the new round of visa restrictions on Ugandan officials and lawmakers, accusing the Western country of pushing its "LGBT agenda" in Africa.
US Secretary of State Antony
Blinken revealed on Monday that visas would be denied to current or former Ugandan officials, as well as their family members, if they are found to be involved in the "repression" of "marginalized or vulnerable" groups, including the LGBTQ community.
"There's a coup at the State Department in the US. It is being taken over by people who are pushing the LGBT agenda in Africa," Uganda's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Okello Oryem, told Western media on Wednesday.
The minister argued that there are other countries in the world with even "harsher" anti-gay laws than Uganda's, adding that US visa restrictions would not make Ugandan lawmakers change their minds about the law, which was passed in late May.
"Why don't they impose the same sanctions on the Middle East countries, which have the same or harsher laws against LGBT?" Oryem said. "If they deny our MPs visas, they will [go] to Shanghai, Guangzhou. There are very many beautiful places to visit."
Earlier this year, following the signing of Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Act of 2023, Washington imposed the first round of visa restrictions on Ugandan officials, and US President
Joe Biden threatened aid cuts and other punitive measures against the East African country.
In May, the Ugandan government faced criticism from Western leaders over its new Anti-Homosexuality Bill, which described as one of the world's harshest anti-LGBTQ laws.
The law, which was signed by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni in late May, aims to protect the country's cultural, religious, and family values, according to its authors. Under the new law, promoting homosexuality could result in a 20-year prison sentence, while "aggravated" homosexuality could carry the death penalty under certain circumstances, although Uganda has not carried out the death penalty for many years.
In response to Uganda's anti-homosexuality law, Washington imposed the first round of visa restrictions on officials from the African country in June. Later, the World Bank
suspended loans to Uganda, saying the law "contradicted" the lender's values.
* The "LGBT movement" is classified as extremist by the Russian authorities and is banned in Russia.
