Ugandan President’s visit to London hit by LGBT rights protest

LGBT campaigners have staged a protest over the President of Uganda’s visit to London.

President Yoweri Museveni arrived in the capital yesterday and has met with UK ministers, officials and corporate executives as part of a Pro-Ugandan business forum hosted by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

On Wednesday evening, he gave a speech at a venue in Buckingham Gate, Westminster.

A protest, organised by the African LGBT group Out and Proud, with the support of Stop AIDS and the Peter Tatchell Foundation, was held outside the building.

A Ugandan law further criminalising same-sex sexual activity, allowing repeat offenders to be sentenced to 14 years in prison, was given presidential approval by Yoweri Museveni in February.

Mr Museveni defended the legislation by saying that gay people give each other worms through sex.

He also described gay people as “disgusting”.

In April, Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire ruled out imposing a travel ban on Uganda’s politicians who support the country’s anti-gay legislation.

The World Bank, along with Sweden, Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands, all halted aid to the Ugandan Government as a result of the decision of President Museveni.

America threatened to reduce the amount of aid going to Ugandan organisations who have expressed support for the Anti-Homosexuality Act.

Last month, International Development Minister Alan Duncan rejected calls to cut foreign aid to countries with anti-gay laws.

The UK Government said that none of its aid goes directly to the Ugandan Government.

• Dec 01 2023

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