The UK should suspend aid to Uganda

As reported in the press recently, a Bill is currently making its way through the Ugandan Parliament which would impose the death penalty for those involved in certain homosexual acts in Uganda. As well as increasing the standard penalty for homosexuality in Uganda to life imprisonment, those involved in 'aggravated homosexuality' would be put to death; this includes any 'offender' who is HIV-positive. This is completely unjust - nobody should be put to death because of their sexuality.

Gordon Brown and other Western leaders have criticised the Bill and it was raised at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting recently but this does not go far enough. Although this Bill has been proposed by a back-bench MP, the Uganda government is doing nothing to stop it and the Ugandan Ethics Minister is encouraging its passage. The UK currently gives £72 million worth of aid to Uganda every year. If this Bill becomes law then the UK should follow Sweden's lead and suspend its aid contributions to Uganda until such a time as the law is reversed.

I appreciate that some people are 'against' homosexuals, however silly I think that is that is, they have every right to hold that view. Equally, we must accept that some societies have not yet begun to appreciate basic human rights in the same way that the UK does. However executing people for being gay is a step too far. If holding the Ugandan government to ransom over this Bill is the only way to stop it then that is what must be done.