What next for Ireland and Ugandan relationship?

The Ugandan President signed into law on February 24 legislation that criminalises homosexuality. This new law provides for a 14-year jail term for a first offence and life imprisonment for the offence of ‘aggravated homosexuality’.

The bill had been passed by the Ugandan Parliament in December.

The only apparent intervention by Tánaiste, Eamon Gilmore, since before Christmas, was a statement published on February 18, in which he indicated he was ‘deeply concerned’ by the prospect of this legislation and that enactment ‘would affect our valued relationship with Uganda’. That was an unconscionable delay and a weak response on his part, given Ireland’s membership of the UN Human Rights Council and Uganda’s membership of this body until last year.