Uganda puts off vote on anti-gay bill

Speaker of parliament says there is no time to act before legislative session ends this week

Published May 13, 2011 12:01PM (EDT)

The speaker of Uganda's parliament says there is not enough time for legislators to act on a controversial anti-gay bill -- which in some cases mandates the death sentence -- before parliament's session ends next week.

The bill had been scheduled for debate Friday, but parliament adjourned without taking up the measure.

Speaker of Parliament Edward Ssekandi Kiwanuk said there is no time to take up the bill this session. He adjourned the parliament and set no date for parliament to return to session.

The anti-gay bill, which would mandate the death sentence for some acts, has drawn condemnation from U.S. leaders and global rights activists.

It was first submitted in October 2009 but didn't have a first reading until last week.


By Associated Press

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