165 MPs Sign Document To Return Anti-Gay Law

The number of MPs who have appended signatures for the return of the Anti-Homosexuality law has now reached 165 surpassing the required number of members to raise quorum of 125 members.

On Friday last week, the Constitutional Court nullified the Anti-Homosexuality Act 2014 on grounds that Parliament passed it without the required quorum.

Parliament chaired by Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga passed the Anti-Homosexuality Act 2014 on 23rd December 2013.

Kawempe North MP Latif Ssebagala started the collection of signatures on Tuesday afternoon and by that evening had managed to secure 91 MPs signatures out of the required 125. By Wednesday evening, the number of MPs who had signed to bring back debate of the law on the floor of parliament had risen to 165.

Ssebagala noted that after the collection of signatures the signature book will be launched on Tuesday next week and that the MPs are to request the Speaker that when Parliament resumes from recess later this month, the Anti-Homosexuality Bill takes precedence so that Parliament re-pass the bill in the limited time.

Ssebagala adds that after collecting the signatures, they are going to set up a committee to handle legalities and modalities in as far as reconsidering the bill are concerned.

He noted that the committee will be in place by Tuesday next week and that they have already started meetings with Ndorwa West MP David Bahati the mover of the bill and other legal experts to see how they move forward.

Meanwhile, in a telephone interview by Ndorwa West MP David Bahati, he noted that the MPs’ action of collecting signatures is making a statement that when the foundation of the nation is destroyed; the people’s representatives cannot stand idly by.

He added that what happened on Friday was an empty victory and that it is going to be rectified.

The Anti-Homosexuality Bill was tabled before Parliament in 2009 as a private member’s bill by Ndorwa West MP David Bahati.

The bill was since condemned by the western world saying that it disregards human rights.

Redpepper

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