The possible revival of a Ugandan bill seeking the death penalty for same-sex sexual relations has set off alarm bells for international human rights organisations and movements.

On 10 October, activists and human rights organisations around the world were shaken by the announcement by the Ugandan Minister of Ethics and Integrity, Simon Lodoko, that he is seeking to revive the draft bill. "Kill the gays" or "Kill the gays".which seeks to punish with the death penalty those who have sexual relations with persons of the same sex. The legislative initiative, which was shelved five years ago due to technical errors, also aims to curb the "recruitment" and "promotion" of homosexuality.

The statement was a direct threat to LGBT people and activists in Uganda, as according to Lodoko the bill will be tabled in the coming weeks before the Ugandan Parliament, and is expected to to be voted on before the end of the year.

The statements by the Minister, who has been known for his constant attacks against the LGBT community, confirmed the suspicions of Ugandan activistsThe government has already announced that it intends to revive the controversial proposal.

However, the group of LGBT social and activist organisations, Sexual Minorites Uganda (SMUG), has stated that, to their knowledge, no bill, not even its draft, has been tabled in Parliament and that these statements come at a time when two issues are at stake: the next general elections to take place in a year and a half, and the fifth anniversary of the repeal of the "Kill the gays" law.

Despite having no evidence that the bill has been tabled, SMUG claims that Lodoko's statements and the possible passage of the bill has violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people has increased significantly. in that country. One such case was the brutal murder of activist Brian Wasswa, which occurred just days before Simon Lodoko's announcement. Oryem Nyeko, Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch says that "in the aftermath of Brian's killing, the Ghe government should make it clear that violence is never acceptable.(...) Instead, the Minister of Ethics and Security is threatening to murder gay people at the hands of the state".

In the same vein, SMUG reported that on Monday 21 October 16 LGBT activists taken into custody by the police after protesting about homophobic insults painted near their offices and homes: "What we are seeing recently, these continuous attacks in such a short space of time, is not normal, Frank Mugisha, director of SMUG, told Reuters. The Ugandan organisation also highlights that the persecution of the LGBT population in their country has not only taken place through laws, but also through government pronouncements linking them to terrorist groups.

Despite the various statements made by Minister Lodoko, the Ugandan government has assured on its Twitter account that it "does not intend to introduce any new laws related to the regulation of LGBT activities in Uganda, as the current provisions in the penal code are sufficient".

It is worth remembering that Uganda is one of the strictest countries in relation to sexual and gender diversity. According to the report "State Homophobia According to the international LGBT rights organisation, Ilga, Uganda is one of 26 countries that criminalise same-sex sexual acts with prison sentences ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment. (See here: map on the situation of LGBT rights in the world)