Simon Lokodo, Uganda's cabinet minister
in charge of ethics and integrity, has threatened to arrest activists
behind a planned LGBT Pride parade in Kampala, the nation's capital.
“The organisers of the planned Gay
Parade on Saturday 24th September 2016 are advised to stop
their activities immediately or otherwise they will be arrested and
prosecuted in the court of law,” Lokodo said in a statement given
to local media.
A colonial-era law makes homosexuality
illegal in Uganda.
The government approved a law in 2014
that dramatically increased the penalties for those convicted of
“aggravated homosexuality,” but a court later struck down the
legislation.
One of the activists, Frank Mugisha,
told the AP that he has been awaiting police authorization to hold an
event this weekend.
Lokodo called on the public to “refrain
from joining and participating in Gay activities.”
“We are aware that there are
inducements, including money, being offered to young people to
promote the practice,” he asserted without providing details or
evidence of such crimes.
He added that there is “no violence
against the LGBT community in Uganda.”