Ugandan minister: We are 'tolerant' as gays 'not slaughtered'

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni. Photo / File / AP

A Ugandan minster labelled treatment of homosexuals in the country "tolerant" because the government is "not slaughtering them".

Uganda's LGBT community face severe persecution in a country where a new law has been dubbed the world's worst anti-gay bill.

The new legislation, passed in December and confirmed last week, criminalised "the promotion or recognition" of homosexual relations. After a first conviction, offenders can face a 14-year prison sentence with further convictions bringing life imprisonment.

Despite this, the minister of state for ethics and integrity Simon Lokodo claimed: "We are tolerant. That's what we are saying: we are not slaughtering them."

"They can come and be helped to come out of this unfortunate situation," he said of the estimated 500,000 Ugandan homosexuals, continuing: "It's like a drug addict. Drug addiction is not an innate situation, it is acquired. But they can be transformed and become better."

"So we are saying anybody found committing this incredible and abominable act should be checked and isolated from society.

He finished by saying: "If you are found practising it, we shall take you to a cell."

Uganda's controversial anti-gay law was initially blocked by President Yoweri Museveni in December, however, last Friday the president signalled his approval with a government spokesperson tweeting "this comes after 14 medical experts presented a report that homosexuality is not genetic but a social behaviour."

- UK Independent