Ugandan MP Sarah Opendi Denied US Visa Over Anti-LGBTQ+ Stance

Summary:

• Ugandan MP Sarah Achieng Opendi, who advocated for castrating homosexuals, was denied a US visa to attend a UN meeting in New York due to her support for anti-LGBTQ+ laws. The US imposed visa restrictions on Ugandan lawmakers involved in such laws.

---

Ugandan Member of Parliament Sarah Achieng Opendi, who advocated for the castration of homosexuals during a parliamentary discussion on some of the world’s most stringent anti-LGBTQ+ laws, has been refused a visa to attend a UN conference in New York next week.

Opendi expressed her “shock” after the US embassy in Kampala declined her request to travel to the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, citing an ongoing “administrative” review.

“Despite ninety-six per cent of MPs supporting the bill, I am aware that numerous MPs who endorsed it have been granted US visas,” stated Opendi, who chairs the Uganda Women Parliamentary Association.

A spokesperson for the US State Department declined to comment on individual visa cases.

In December, the US imposed visa restrictions on numerous Ugandan legislators and their families due to their involvement in the legislation, signed into law by President Yoweri Museveni. This law prescribes the death penalty or life imprisonment for certain same-sex acts and sentences of up to 20 years for “recruitment, promotion, and funding” of same-sex “activities.”

Last year, both the US and UK denied visas to parliamentary speaker Anita Among. These actions have been welcomed by activists in Uganda.

“In their discussions about the oppressive anti-homosexuality law, many Ugandan legislators expressed indifference towards the concerns of development partners, asserting they do not need to visit their jurisdictions. This situation illustrates the consequences of such attitudes,” remarked human rights lawyer Nicholas Opiyo.

“The visa denial serves as a strong statement against those propagating hatred. I hope it conveys a clear message that such individuals are unwelcome in civilized societies,” he added.

Steven Kabuye, a human rights activist in Kampala, observed that politicians are being held “accountable.”

“They cannot denounce homosexuality in their home countries and then seek enjoyment in LGBTQ+ friendly environments,” he remarked. “I am pleased that the US visa ban on Ugandan politicians who violate human rights is proving effective.”

In Africa, 33 out of 55 countries have laws against same-sex relationships, many of which originated during colonial rule. Kenya, Namibia, Niger, Tanzania, and Uganda have intensified their anti-gay laws. Ghana recently passed legislation criminalizing same-sex relationships, while Namibia and Kenya have enacted laws against same-sex marriages or unions.

The International Aids Society expressed concern about the rise in anti-gay laws, warning that they jeopardize the HIV response.

“There is an urgent need for the governments of these countries to collaborate with, rather than oppose, the most vulnerable communities to HIV,” stated IAS president Sharon Lewin.

“We urge the presidents of Ghana, Namibia, and Kenya to oppose these discriminatory bills. At the IAS, we urge prioritization of people and adherence to scientific evidence: criminalizing any population exacerbates the HIV pandemic by excluding people from testing, treatment, and care.”

Civil society groups are awaiting a verdict on a constitutional court appeal regarding the Ugandan legislation.

Follow @examinerug