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- Sarah Achieng Opendi has been denied a visa to attend the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women in New York
- Ugandan MP Sarah Achieng Opendi, who advocated for castrating homosexuals, was denied a US visa to attend a UN meeting in New York due to her support for anti-LGBTQ+ laws. The US imposed visa restrictions on Ugandan lawmakers involved in such laws.
The U.S. has denied a visa to a Ugandan member of parliament who suggested homosexual people should be castrated.
During a speech in support of Uganda’s 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Act – which punishes homosexuality and its “promotion” with prison time and death – MP Sarah Achieng Opendi suggested an amendment that would allow gay people to be castrated so they couldn’t “continue with homosexuality” in prison.
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The U.S. embassy in Kampala, Uganda’s capital, recently denied Opendi’s request for a visa to travel to New York for the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women next week.
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A statement from Opendi reported by the Guardian expressed anger that other MPs who supported the Anti-Homosexuality Act have been granted visas. After its rejection, Opendi’s request to travel is reportedly under administrative review.
“The denial of a visa is a strong statement against those spreading hatred,” said human rights lawyer Nicholas Opiyo. “I hope it sends a firm message that such individuals have no place in civilized societies.”
Opiyo also called out Ugandan legislators who “stated they do not care about the concerns of development partners as they do not need to travel to their jurisdictions.”
“It is the case of the chicken coming home to roost,” he said.
Activist Steven Kabuye – who was recently the victim of a vicious homophobic attack – said politicians “can’t claim to hate homosexuality in their home countries and then go ahead and enjoy life in LGBTQ+ utopias.”
“I am glad the U.S. visa ban on Ugandan politicians who violate human rights is working,” he said.
Uganda’s law has colloquially been referred to as the “Kill the Gays” law. After it was signed enthusiastically by the country’s president Yoweri Museveni in May of last year, the U.S. announced visa restrictions on unnamed officials, as well as Uganda’s expulsion from a U.S.-led trade pact as part of a long line of sanctions imposed by the U.S. and international community in protest of the extreme legislation.