Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has clarified that the recently enacted anti-LGBTQ laws do not dictate for one to be arrested for seeking medical care.
Museveni said they had deliberated with various doctors across the African continent and concluded that homosexuality is a result of psychological disorientation.
This then means that it cannot be criminalised.
"This conclusion gives us a way forward. If somebody is a victim of psychological disorientation, do you criminalise him or her on account of that? Is it logical or fair to do so? The answer is: "No". Instead, such a person needs assistance to, if possible, overcome his psychological disorientation," the statement reads in part.
He said this in a statement dubbed 'The State of the Nation Address-2023' released on Wednesday.
Museveni went on and dismissed any reports indicating that the new Ugandan law states that merely identifying as homosexual warrants arrest.
"Therefore, if a homosexual keeps his being to himself or confidentially seeks assistance from the doctors or priests, it will not offend this law," he said.
The President clarified that the law is against homosexuals coercing others into joining the movement.
This, the law says, is an offence punishable with a prison term not exceeding 20 years.
"If he goes further and rapes a person (child, indigent, etc.), he commits a capital offence and he faces a maximum sentence of death. This is the law I signed," Museveni added.
He further broke down the law into three substantive points, including being homosexual as a personal issue, promoting sexuality as a criminal offence and raping qualifying possible death sentence.
He directed medical practitioners to assist any patient fitting in the above points.
"Therefore, doctors and other health providers should assist those patients who come to them bearing the three substantive points in mind," Museveni said.
The talk on Uganda's anti-LGBTQ law is not over.
"I will arrange a dedicated broadcast on this issue towards the end of June," the President said.
