US To Restrict Visas For Ugandans Over Anti-gay Law

President of United States of America, Joe Biden

Ugandan officials face restrictions on their visas from the US due to an anti-gay law

The African nation of Uganda approved an anti-LGBTQ law that was denounced by numerous nations and the UN, the U.S. State Department announced on Friday. As a result, the United States has placed limitations on visas for Ugandan officials.

Enacted in May, the law—which is regarded as one of the strictest in the world—carries the death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality," an offense that includes HIV transmission through homosexual sex. It provoked swift criticism from countries in the West and threatened to jeopardize some of the billions of dollars in annual foreign help that the nation receives.

President of the United States Joe Biden had threatened to impose sanctions and cut off aid, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken had stated last month that the US would think about imposing visa restrictions on Ugandan officials.

While the State Department statement from Friday did not specify names or even the total number of officials who would be subject to the visa ban, it did state that the United States would hold individuals accountable who violate human rights in Uganda, "including those of LGBTQ persons."

In addition, same-sex relationships warrant a life sentence and the advocacy of homosexuality carries a 20-year penalty under the statute, according to Ugandan law.

According to the law, businesses that intentionally support LGBTQ activities, such as the media and non-governmental groups, will also face severe penalties.

In the traditional and deeply religious nation of East Africa, homosexuality was already prohibited, and those who practiced it were subject to harassment and exclusion by law enforcement.