Ugandan President Bows to Pressure, Signs Anti-Gay Bill into Law

he President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, has finally bowed to pressure and signed the anti-gay bill into law on February 24, 2014, Monday.

The ceremony took place at the Presidential residence at Entebbe, near the capital Kampala, in front of governmental officials, journalists and a team of Ugandan scientists. The last have also said their word in the controversial decision, after declaring that "no genetic basis for homosexuality exists".

Uganda's lawmakers passed the law in December 2013, however, the President refused to immediately sign it.

The anti-gay bill outlaws all the forms homosexuality in Uganda.

First-time offenders would be punished with 14 years in jail. Life imprisonment, as the penalty for acts of "aggravated homosexuality", is also allowed.

It also makes it a crime not to report gay people, therefore living as openly gay is no more possible in Uganda.

Lesbians are covered by the bill as well.

In his reaction, President Obama described the adopted anti-gay law as "a step backwards for all the Ugandans."

However, many citizens are quite happy the decision of their President, as it defends "traditional African values."

It would be recalled that President Goodluck Jonathan has signed into law the Bill which outlaws same sex marriage in the beginning of January 2014, despite internationational pressure, showing an example to his colleague from Uganda.