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Uganda strongly criticizes recent US visa restrictions on its officials, linking them to an “LGBT agenda.” The sanctions target individuals accused of undermining democracy and repressing marginalized groups. The move is a response to Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act, impacting its international standing and relations with the US.

Uganda has in stronger terms criticized the recent expansion of visa restrictions imposed by the United States on its officials, viewing it as an effort by Washington to enforce an “LGBT agenda” in Africa.

Unidentified Ugandan citizens are the target of the new sanctions, which were unveiled earlier this week. The United States accuses them of undermining democracy and repressing marginalized groups, including the LGBTQ community.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Henry Okello Oryem made it clear that his nation would not renounce the passage of a specific law. He made it clear to AFP that certain American and Western organizations undoubtedly want to use loans and aid to coerce Ugandans and Africans into accepting same-sex relationships.

Oryem questioned in a Reuters interview why Middle Eastern nations with comparable or more stringent anti-LGBTQ legislation weren’t subject to similar sanctions.

Noting the abundance of interesting places to visit, he said that if the US refused visas to Ugandan MPs, they would look into other options like Shanghai or Guangzhou.

In June, the US imposed the first visa restrictions in response to Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act.

Following the US restrictions, the World Bank stopped making new loans to Uganda in August. The United States declared in late October that the country of East Africa would no longer be a part of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) as of January 20, 2024.

Although it hasn’t been applied in the nation for years, Ugandan law punishes people severely for engaging in homosexual relationships or encouraging homosexuality, including the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality.”

Recently, the United States of America imposed stringent visa regulations that not only affected more than 300 Members of Parliament but also their immediate families, thereby restricting their ability to enter the nation.

 Due to their support of the highly controversial Anti-Homosexuality Act, which aroused international indignation over Uganda’s human rights record, they were placed on a broad blacklist.

The visa restrictions were extended by Secretary of State Antony Blinken to include individuals who did not undermine Uganda’s democratic processes.

Individuals connected to repression against journalists, human rights advocates, activists, and marginalized communities are now included in the sanctions. Blinken noted that these people’s immediate family members are also subject to the enlarged restrictions.

“Today, I am announcing the expansion of the visa restriction policy to include current or former Ugandan officials or others who are believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining, marginalized or vulnerable populations. The groups include, but are not limited to, environmental activists, human rights defenders, journalists, LGBTQI+ persons, and civil society organizers. The immediate family members of such persons may also be subject to these restrictions,” charged Secretary Blinken.

The sanctions now apply to politicians who participated in the contentious general elections of 2021, regardless of their current or previous cabinet posts. During this time, people who opposed President Museveni’s candidacy claimed that government security forces had kidnapped, attacked, and killed them.

This unprecedented step toward punitive diplomatic measures against Ugandan officials is the extension of restrictions to include family members.

The effects are profoundly felt in Ugandan political circles. For instance, Speaker of the House Anita Amongi’s visas to the US and the UK were suddenly canceled when the Act was ratified in May 2023.

The ramifications are alarming because involving family members intensifies hostilities and ripples through Uganda’s political system, frightening individuals involved.