Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has signed into law a controversial anti-gay bill, his office and the country's parliament said, introducing draconian measures against homosexuality that have been described as among the world's harshest.
Mr Museveni "has assented to the Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2023. It now becomes the Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023," a statement posted on the presidency's official Twitter account said.
Uganda's parliament on Twitter said Mr Museveni had assented a new draft of the legislation approved by MPs earlier this month.
The president had called on MPs to rework the bill, though most of the hardline provisions that caused outcry in the West were retained.
The amended version clarified that identifying as gay would not be criminalised, but "engaging in acts of homosexuality" would be an offence punishable with life imprisonment.
Although Mr Museveni had advised MPs to delete a provision making "aggravated homosexuality" a capital offence, they rejected that move, meaning that repeat offenders could be sentenced to death.
Uganda has not resorted to capital punishment for many years.
The bill was condemned by the United States, European Union and international human rights groups, but enjoys broad public support in Uganda.
EU foreign policy head Josep Borrell condemned the new law, describing it as "deplorable" and contrary to international human rights law.
"The Ugandan government has an obligation to protect all of its citizens and uphold their basic rights," Mr Borrell said in a statement.
"Failure to do so will undermine relationships with international partners."
