The World Council of Churches has raised concerns about a proposed law in Uganda calling for the jailing and even the execution of homosexuals.Current legislation in Uganda allows for people to be jailed for 14 years for engaging in homosexual acts.
The new law being considered would raise that to life imprisonment though no one has ever been convicted of homosexual acts in the country, Ecumenical News International reported.
World Council of Churches secretary General, Rev. Samuel Kobia, said he was saddened and distressed to receive the news from Uganda regarding a proposed law against homosexual individuals which proposes the death penalty to homosexual individuals who are HIV positive.
Rev. Kobia, a Methodist from Kenya, wrote a letter to Uganda President Yoweri Museveni on the issue on 22 December.
He said he hopes that president Museveni will join the African church leaders and fellow people of faith, to abstain from supporting any law which can lead to death penalty, promotes prejudice and hatred, and which can be easily manipulated to oppress people.
The proposed Ugandan law has drawn condemnation from church and political leaders in the West.