BUSINESS STATEMENT ON THE ANTI-HOMOSEXUALITY BILL OF UGANDA

As a coalition of global companies – including those with operations and employees in Uganda – Open For Business is concerned about negative impacts of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill:

● Firstly, discrimination against LGBTQ+ people has a detrimental effect on employees and runs counter to the interests of businesses and economic growth in Uganda. The evidence shows that policies designed to exclude minorities such as the LGBTQ+ community have a real cost – not only on people, but on business performance as well as national economic competitiveness. There is a strong economic rationale for better inclusion in Uganda.

● Secondly, the Bill, if enacted, will make it a crime to pursue policies of diversity and inclusion in Uganda by making it illegal to provide information and support to LGBTQ+ employees. Further, it will compel companies to report those perceived to be LGBTQ+ to the authorities.

This contravenes international standards of corporate responsibility and best business practices.

Context

We are a coalition of businesses from the technology, industrials, airline, financial services, healthcare, consumer products, entertainment and consulting sectors. This briefing is intended to express our concern at the Anti-Homosexuality Bill (AHB), which proposes harsh penalties for people perceived to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or non-binary (LGBTQ+) or those who support inclusion for LGBTQ+ people.

see the full statement here

click here for our press release