USHOGA MARUFUKU NCHINI UGANDA-Homosexual acts are already illegal in Uganda.

Uganda's president has signed into law a bill toughening penalties for gay people and criminalising those who do not report them.    Rais wa Uganda Yoweri Museveni ametia saini mswada wenye utata unaotoa adhabu kali kwa watakaopatikana wakishiriki mapenzi ya jinsia moja. 

Rais Museveni alitia saini mswada huo nyumbani kwake katika hafla iliyoshuhudiwa na maafisa wakuu wa serikali pamoja na wandishi wa habari. 

Mswada huo ambao sasa utakuwa sheria, unatoa adhabu ya kifungo cha miaka 14 jela kwa wale watakaopatikana na hatia kwa mara ya kwanza, 

Adhabu ya maisha jela itatolea kwa watu watakaopatikana na hatia ya kushiriki mapenzi ya jinsia moja zaidi ya mara moja kati ya watu wawili waliokubaliana kufanya hivyo.

Adhabu hiyo pia itatolewa kwa wale wanaopatikana na hatia ya kuwahusisha watoto katika vitendo hivyo, walemavu au kumuambikiza mtu virusi vya Ukimwi. 

Mswada huo umepigiwa debe sana nchini Uganda, lakini mashirika ya kimataifa ya kutetea haki za binadamu yameulaani.

A government spokesman said President Yoweri Museveni wanted to assert Uganda's "independence in the face of Western pressure".

US President Barack Obama has cautioned the bill would be a backward step.
Mr Museveni had previously agreed to put the bill on hold pending US scientific advice.

MWANA HARAKATI