ACTIVISTS have condemned Ugandan legislators for approving draconian legislation that prescribes jail terms of up to 10 years for offences related to same-sex relations.

The Bill was passed on Tuesday night after a roll call ordered by the parliamentary speaker, who had, astonishingly, warned that it was necessary to identify anyone opposing the legislation.

Nearly all of the 389 legislators present voted in favour of the Bill.

“Congratulations,” said Speaker Anita Among. “Whatever we are doing, we are doing it for the people of Uganda.”

The legislation now goes to President Yoweri Museveni, who, in a recent speech, accused unnamed Western nations of “trying to impose their practices on other people.”

It creates the offence of “aggravated homosexuality,” which applies in cases of sexual relations involving those infected with HIV as well as minors and other categories of vulnerable people. Anyone found guilty can be jailed for up to 10 years.

Same-sex activity is already punishable with life imprisonment under a colonial-era law prohibiting “carnal knowledge against the order of nature.”

Human Rights Watch said that the Bill, if signed into law, “would violate multiple fundamental rights, including rights to freedom of expression and association, privacy, equality and non-discrimination.”

The group’s Oryem Nyeko said in a statement earlier this month: “Ugandan politicians should focus on passing laws that protect vulnerable minorities and affirm fundamental rights and stop targeting LGBT people for political capital.”

Last year, the Ugandan agency overseeing the work of NGOs stopped the operations of Sexual Minorities Uganda, the most prominent LGBTQ organisation in the country, accusing it of failing to register legally.

The group’s leader responded that his organisation had been rejected by the registrar of companies as undesirable.

Same sex-relationships are criminalised in more than 30 of Africa’s 54 countries.