The United States announced on Monday that it would impose 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.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that visas would be denied to current or former Ugandan officials, as well as their family members, if they are found to be participating in the "repression" of "marginalized or vulnerable" groups.
"These groups include, but are not limited to, environmental activists, human rights defenders, journalists, LGBTQI+* persons and civil society organisers," Blinken outlined.
The top US diplomat pointed out that in order to maintain good relations between his country and Uganda, the East African country needs to "uphold democracy" and "protect human rights".
"I once again strongly encourage the government of Uganda to make concerted efforts to uphold democracy and to respect and protect human rights so that we may sustain the decades-long partnership between our countries that has benefited Americans and Ugandans alike," he said.
In May, Uganda's government faced widespread criticism from Western leaders, including US President Joe Biden, the European Union, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, regarding its new anti-homosexuality law, considered one of the world's most stringent anti-LGBTQ laws.
This law, signed by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni in late May, aims to protect cultural, religious, and family values within the country, according to its authors.
According to the Anti-Homosexuality Act of 2023, promoting homosexuality could result in a 20-year prison sentence, while aggravated homosexuality could carry the death penalty under certain circumstances, despite Uganda not implementing capital punishment for many years.
President Museveni has expressed determination to resist Western pressure over the law, citing widespread domestic support.
In June, in response to the Anti-Homosexuality law, the US imposed the first round of visa restrictions on Ugandan officials, and the US President Joe Biden threatened aid reductions and other punitive measures against the country.
Following the US move against Uganda, the World Bank suspended loans to the country on the grounds that the law "contradicts" its values. Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni estimated the World Bank's move as an attempt to "coerce [Uganda] into abandoning [its] faith, culture, principles and sovereignty, using money," and called the Western actors, including the lender, "insufferable."
* The "LGBT movement" is classified as extremist by the Russian authorities and is banned in Russia.