UGANDA: Anglican Archbishop Applauds High Court Decision over Homosexuality
By David Virtue, VOL.
The Anglican Church in Uganda has said it is happy about the recent upholding of the anti-homosexuality law which the LGBT community and human rights activists wanted the court to overturn.
LGBT activists in Uganda petitioned in the constitutional court seeking the scrapping of a homosexuality law passed last year saying it infringed on their human rights. The court rejected their appeal.
The Church of Uganda praised the five judges who made the ruling for being religious and patriotic. It said it is happy with the decision.
Speaking on behalf of Anglican Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba, the provincial secretary of Anglican Church of Uganda, The Rev. Canon Captain William Ongeng, told VOL; “We are happy about the court ruling. Any right-thinking person would think that is the right decision. In fact, there was nothing new. Ugandans decided a long time ago that they are against homosexuality.”
Lawyers for LGBT activists said they will appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.
The Anglican Church of Uganda has never favored the use of the death penalty.
In June of 2023 the Ugandan church came out in support of the anti-homosexuality act but renewed its opposition to capital punishment.
In a carefully calibrated statement, the Anglican Church of Uganda once again affirmed its opposition to homosexuality and to capital punishment. The law permits the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality,” which it defines as sex involving a minor, a person who has HIV, or a person who has a disability. The bill’s proposer, Asuman Basalirwa, said the law allows for, but does not require, the death penalty.
To date, the death penalty has not been enforced. The new law contemplates a prison term of up to 20 years.
The Anglican Church of Uganda again blamed Western values and influences on Uganda. “The Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023 is good and we are grateful to the President for assenting to it,” said Kaziimba.
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