Faith Nyasuguta
Ugandan MP Sarah Achieng Opendi, who infamously called for the castration of homosexuals during a parliamentary debate, has been denied a visa to attend the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women in New York.
This move comes as the US embassy in Kampala rejected her application, pending “administrative” review. The denial follows the imposition of visa restrictions by the US on hundreds of Ugandan lawmakers and their families in December due to their involvement in the country’s severe anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.
Opendi, the chair of Uganda Women Parliamentary Association, expressed “shock” at the rejection, emphasizing that 96% of MPs voted in favor of the bill. However, a US State Department spokesperson declined to discuss individual visa cases. Last year, the US and UK similarly denied visas to Uganda’s parliamentary speaker, Anita Among.
The legislation in question, signed into law by President Yoweri Museveni, imposes the death penalty or life imprisonment for certain same-sex acts and up to 20 years for the “recruitment, promotion, and funding” of same-sex activities. The denial of visas by the US and the UK is seen as a response to Uganda’s repressive anti-homosexuality laws, which have faced widespread criticism.
In Africa, 33 out of 55 countries have legislation against same-sex relations, much of it stemming from colonial regimes. Recent moves in Kenya, Namibia, Niger, Tanzania, and Uganda to tighten anti-gay laws have raised concerns.
Ghana recently passed a bill criminalizing same-sex relationships, while Namibia and Kenya have enacted legislation against same-sex marriages.
The International Aids Society has voiced concerns about the surge in anti-gay laws, emphasizing the need for governments to work with vulnerable communities to combat HIV effectively.
The denial of Opendi’s visa is seen as a step toward holding politicians accountable for violating human rights. Activists welcome the actions, emphasizing the need to challenge discriminatory legislation and promote inclusivity.
Civil society groups are awaiting a constitutional court ruling on an appeal against the Ugandan legislation, highlighting ongoing efforts to protect the LGBTQ+ community’s rights in the face of oppressive laws.
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