Uganda's ruling party to decide on nullified anti-homosexuality act

KAMPALA, Aug. 3 (Xinhua/Sun) -- Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni said on Saturday that his ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party will meet to decide on the next course of action over the nullified controversial Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA).

Museveni told reporters here that his party will discuss the Constitutional Court ruling that nullified AHA following a petition by a group of gay and human rights activists over the parliament's passing of the bill without quorum.

"I have not had time to discuss with caucus. We shall discuss what to do with the bill in our party," said Museveni.

Asked why he assented to the bill after earlier rejecting on grounds that it was passed without the required quorum, Museveni said, "I assent to bills by authorized people. I sign them when I want to sign them. If I have anything I disapprove of, I don't."

The panel of five judges of the Constitutional Court on Friday nullified AHA after the parliament passed it without the required quorum.

The judges led by acting Chief Justice Steven Kavuma ruled that the passing of the anti-homosexuality bill by the parliament on Dec. 20, 2013 without the required quorum was unconstitutional.

Museveni assented to the bill on Feb. 24 despite international pressure for him to drop the proposed law.

Under the AHA, those found guilty of homosexual acts can be jailed for up to 14 years, a sentence that increases to life in "aggravated" cases, such as those committed by an HIV positive person, or those involving minors, the disabled and serious offenders