The United States government has cancelled the visa for the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among over the passing of the Anti-Homosexuality law.
Speaking to Journalists on Monday, the mover of the bill, Bugiri Member of Parliament, Asuman Basalirwa, noted that the speaker’s visa was cancelled by the United States embassy.
“It goes, Dear Madam Speaker, the United State government has revoked your current visas on information that came available after your last issuance. As of May of 2003. You don’t possess a valid travel visa to the US, though you’re welcome to apply again,” Basalirwa said.
He added, “Forward your passport to the embassy through the Ministry of Finance so that we can make necessary modifications to your visas.”
The MP argued he could also have been a target by the U.S, however, they didn’t find any visa for the U.S. belonging to him.
He argued that the speaker could be the first victim.
“I understand if the UK Government is doing the same. First of all, you will cancel all our visas and by the way, it is your right. For me, I have no problem with the way a country manages their affairs in their wisdom and democracy. They don’t want us in their countries it is their right. And I don’t want anybody to blame America or UK for cancelling visas for this time. It is their right. And me I am not complaining,” he said.
Basalirwa sneered at the embassies for what he termed as discriminatory revoking of visas, asking the embassies to revoke President Museveni’s visa since he is the person who signed the bill into law.
“I’ll not begrudge any embassy for cancelling anybody’s visas. So what that means is that my other problem with these people is single picking. This law here was signed by the President of the Republic of Uganda, why not cancel his visas, Let visas of all MPs, except two, be cancelled.”
The development comes shortly after President Museveni assented to the Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2023 into law.
The bill comes amidst fears that the West and other donor partners will cancel aid they give to Uganda.