Uganda to pass anti-gay bill this year

Ugandas anti-gay bill will be passed before the end of 2012 despite international criticism of the draft legislation, the speaker of the countrys parliament said Monday, insisting it is what most Ugandans want.Speaker Rebecca Kadaga told The Associated Press that the bill, which originally mandated death for some gay acts, will become law this year.Ugandans are demanding it, she said, reiterating a promise she made before a meeting on Friday of anti-gay activists who spoke of the serious threat posed by homosexuals to Ugandas children. Some Christian clerics at the meeting in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, asked the speaker to pass the law as a Christmas gift.Speaker, we cannot sit back while such (a) destructive phenomenon is taking place in our nation, the activists said in a petition. We therefore, as responsible citizens, feel duty-bound to bring this matter to your attention as the leader of Parliament ... so that lawmakers can do something to quickly address the deteriorating situation in our nation.