Ugandan Member of Parliament Sarah Achieng Opendi, known for advocating castration for homosexuals during a parliamentary debate on stringent anti-LGBTQ+ laws, has been denied a visa to attend a UN meeting in New York scheduled for next week.
Expressing her dismay, Opendi revealed that her application to participate in the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women in New York was rejected by the US embassy in Kampala pending “administrative” review, despite her role as the chair of the Uganda Women Parliamentary Association.
Opendi cited the overwhelming support for the anti-LGBTQ+ bill in Uganda, with 96% of MPs backing it, and noted that other MPs who endorsed the bill have been granted US visas.
A spokesperson for the US State Department declined to comment on individual visa cases.
In December, the US imposed visa restrictions on numerous Ugandan lawmakers and their families for their involvement in passing legislation signed into law by President Yoweri Museveni. The law stipulates the death penalty or life imprisonment for certain same-sex acts and sentences of up to 20 years for the “recruitment, promotion, and funding” of same-sex “activities.”
Previously, both the US and UK denied visas to parliamentary speaker Anita Among, actions that have been welcomed by activists in Uganda.
Nicholas Opiyo, a human rights lawyer, remarked that the visa denial sends a strong message against those promoting hatred and intolerance, emphasizing that such individuals have no place in civilized societies.
Steven Kabuye, a human rights activist in Kampala, highlighted the accountability of politicians, asserting that those who propagate anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments in their home countries should not expect to enjoy privileges in LGBTQ+ friendly environments.
Across Africa, 33 out of 55 countries have legislation against same-sex relations, much of which stems from colonial rule. Recent efforts to tighten anti-gay laws have been observed in countries like Kenya, Namibia, Niger, Tanzania, and Uganda. Ghana recently passed a bill criminalizing same-sex relationships, while Namibia has enacted laws against same-sex marriages, and Kenya is considering legislation to outlaw same-sex unions.
The International AIDS Society has raised concerns about the surge in anti-gay laws, warning that they could hamper the HIV response. The society urged the presidents of Ghana, Namibia, and Kenya to oppose discriminatory bills and prioritize public health initiatives.
Civil society groups in Uganda are awaiting a ruling on a constitutional court appeal challenging the anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.
