Uganda President, Yoweri Museveni on Monday, signed into the anti-gay bill law. his office and the country’s parliament said, introducing harsh measures against homosexuality that has been declared to be among the worlds cruelest law.

The president, “has assented to the Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2023.It now becomes the Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023,”a statement from the President’s twitter account read.

Uganda’s parliament on Twitter said Museveni had approved a new draft of the legislation approved by lawmakers earlier this month.

President Museveni had called upon the MPs to rework the bill, though most of the hardline provisions that caused outcry in the West were retained.

The amended version clarified that identifying as gay would not be criminalized, but “engaging in acts of homosexuality” would be an offence punishable with life imprisonment.

Lawmakers

Although lawmakers were advised to delete the provision making “aggravated homosexuality” a capital offence, the lawmakers rejected he move, meaning that repeat offenders could face a life sentence.

Discussion of the bill in parliament was laced with homophobic slurs, and Museveni himself referred to gay people as “deviants.”

“As Parliament of Uganda, we have heeded the concerns of our people of our people and legislated to protect the sanctity of the family,” Anita Among said in a statement.

The bill was condemned by the United States, European Union and International human rights groups.

Also Read: Uganda Passes Law Over Uganda’s Anti-Gay Bill Amnesty International Raises Concerns