Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has said he will not be intimidated by anyone into reversing the draconian anti-homosexuality law whose enactment had received local and international condemnation.
In a statement on Wednesday, the tough-talking Museveni said the law is a done deal and dared anyone looking to challenge that decision should bring it on.
"The NRM has never had two languages, what we tell you in the day is what we shall say to you at night. The signing of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill is finished, nobody will move us. We should be ready for a war. Remember war is not for the soft," Museveni said.
The President assented to the anti-homosexuality Bill on Monday making it among the harshest anti-LGBTQ laws in the world.
It prescribes the death penalty for aggravated cases, which include having gay sex with someone below the age of 18.
The decision caused an international uproar with US President Joe Biden describing it as a "tragic violation of universal human rights".
Biden called on Uganda to repeal the legislation immediately and added that Washington was considering "additional steps, including the application of sanctions and restriction of entry into the United States against anyone involved in serious human rights abuses or corruption".
The legislation has also been condemned by campaign groups in Uganda which have cited violation of rights and increased risk of stigmatisation against members of the LGBTQ community.
Rights activists and UNAIDS executive director Winnie Byanyima said the law will claw back on the gains made towards HIV/Aids eradication in Uganda.
"This law sets us back to end Aids, we can't end Aids unless everyone can be reached by services for prevention and treatment," Winnie said.
"People living with HIV who happen to be also gay or transgender women will be further discriminated, there will be more discrimination, they will be pushed away from services that could save their lives," she added.
