The Attorney General Mr Kiryowa Kiwanuka has noted down to president Museveni on to the Anti Homosexuality Bill 2023 ahead of the long anticipated meeting between President Museveni and the Members of Parliament to discuss the fate of the bill scheduled today.
Mr Kiryowa confirmed in witting advising Mr Museveni not to append his signature onto the controversial Act.
“ Yes we rendered our opinion to the president in the legislation process and we have carried out our duty,” Mr Kiryowa Said in a telephone interview with our reporter.
However Mr Museveni is yet to sign the long awaited Bill that was overwhelmingly passed by the House on March 21 into an Act.
Mid last month while appearing before parliament, Mr Kiryowa labeled the Bill redundant due to multiple repetitions of offenses in already existing legislation like the penal code Act.
The Attorney General plays a critical role in the legislation process including helping private members draft Bills and ensuring conformity of the laws.
However during Tuesday’s plenary session this week, Woman MP of Dokolo Hon Cecilia Ogwal argued the head of state’s delay to assent to the Bill.
“ it’s almost a month when this House discussed at length of the Anti Homosexuality Bill and it was passed with overwhelming majority and there was no clauses that was not interrogated with the Attorney General.Everywhere I go people are asking if it has been asserted to. The whole country is so anxious to see him append his signature,” she asked.
Consequently Mr Mwijukye Francis who represented the leader of Opposition wondered why the NRM legislators weee summoned to discuss the already completed process.
According to the Deputy speaker Tomas Tayebwa who chaired the House said he would ask why the Attorney General and the prime minister for the law as soon as the constitutionally granted thirsty days since the President received the Bill elapse.
Given the winding process of legislation Mr Museveni could assent to the bill as its or return it to parliament for reconsideration.
In addition the president will need large numbers of the NRM to swing the House in his favor but if the president declines to sign and Mps enact it a third time then it will automatically become law without presidential assent.