Uganda's President Returns LGBTQ+ Bill to Parliament

Photo: AP [via Al Jazeera]

The Facts

  • Ugandan Pres. Yoweri Museveni's office announced late Thursday that he decided not to sign a controversial, hardline LGBTQ+ bill into law, requesting lawmakers to look into "the issue of rehabilitation."

  • This decision comes after Museveni and MPs in his ruling party agreed in a meeting to send the bill, which was opposed by only two deputies during the voting session, back to the National Assembly with "proposals for improvements."


The Spin

Establishment-critical narrative

While some changes in this bill are needed to protect and rehabilitate children and other vulnerable persons, the spirit of this legislation aligns entirely with the values and moral fabric of the Ugandan nation. Despite the pressure from imperialist powers that have wreaked havoc in the world for centuries and seek to impose their morals on Africans, the country's sovereignty will not be undermined.

Pro-establishment narrative

It's outrageous that some countries, such as Uganda, still promote the unscientific notion that homosexuality is a deviation from human nature, even engaging in un-African state-sponsored homophobia. Same-sex relationships have long been reported in the continent, debunking the fabricated narrative that this sexual orientation is a Western import. Museveni should veto this bill in its entirety.

Nerd narrative

There's a 50% chance that at least 23% of the world population will be living in countries where same-sex marriage is legal in 2032, according to the Metaculus prediction community.


Establishment split

CRITICAL

PRO

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