Ramaphosa’s silence on Uganda anti-LGBTQIA+ laws deafening

23 March 2023

ActionSA notes with concern the deafening silence of President Cyril Ramaphosa as the Ugandan Government passes an Anti-Homosexuality Bill, which expands on the criminalisation of same sex acts between individuals that may consequently lead up to 10 years imprisonment.

It is as disappointing as it is unsurprising given just last month, 28 February 2023, President Ramaphosa, hosted the notoriously homophobic Ugandan President for a State Visit to South Africa.

The proposed new bill further makes it an offence to touch another person “with the intention of committing the act of homosexuality” and the “promotion of homosexuality.” It also makes it a crime to participate in a same sex marriage ceremony and effectively declares all same sex conduct as non-consensual.

It is our firm belief that the passing of this hostile law, is a scathing attack against the rights of any individual who identifies as a lesbian, gay, transgender, a queer, or any other sexual or gender identity that is contrary to the binary categories of male and female.

That a bill of this nature can be passed so far into the 21st century when the global community has made such significant strides in restoring human rights and freedoms is unjustifiable.

What is seemingly clear is that this Bill will further entrench discrimination into the very fabric of society and incite violence and harassment against individuals on the basis of their sexual orientation. The inflammatory utterances made carelessly by the senior leadership of Uganda, if left unchecked, will lead to abuse of power against anyone, not just the LGBTQIA+ community.

As ActionSA we urge the Ramaphosa to take a stance for the millions of Africans who still remain vulnerable to lawmakers who violate their fundamental freedoms and rights, and to call on the government of Uganda to take immediate steps to decriminalise same-sex relations.

The world, much less Uganda, does not need to witness a repeat of the tragic loss of David Kato, a prominent gay activist and human rights defender who was senselessly killed in 2011.

It is our hope that with sufficient support and advocacy from our “silent” leaders, the Ugandan anti-LGBTQI Bill would be reviewed in lieu of its fundamental conflicts with the country’s international human rights obligations.

Issued by Herman Mashaba, ActionSA President, 23 March 2023