The Ugandan government on Monday issued arrest warrants for a gay man who is accused of defiling boys.
Fred Opolot, a Ugandan government spokesman, told reporters here that police have issued arrest warrants for Chris Mubiru, who is alleged to have been sexually abusing minors.
"Government is therefore appealing to the public who have empirical evidence regarding these heinous acts by a one Chris Mubiru and others to report to the Police," he said.
Defilement is punishable according to Ugandan law. Any person who attempts to perform a sexual act with another person who is below the age of 18 years commits an offense and is, on conviction, liable to imprisonment not exceeding 18 years.
According to the government, available video images indicate that Mubiru seemed to have been luring minors into sexual harassment.
Police say Mubiru is now believed to have fled the East African country on Saturday to the United States or Canada.
"In this regard, Uganda Police has sent out a request to INTERPOL to arrest Mr Mubiru wherever he has escaped to and hand him over to Uganda Police for further interrogation," he said.
The arrest warrants come at a time when an anti-gay bill is scheduled to be debated by the Ugandan Parliament.
The bill in its original form called for a death sentence for people engaging in aggravated homosexual acts and those perceived to be "promoting" homosexuality.
These clauses have since been dropped following international pressure.
Leaders from the U.S., Britain and Canada have expressed strong concerns and vocally opposed the bill, citing human rights violations.
Several Western countries have threatened to withhold development assistance to Uganda if the bill is passed.
Fred Opolot, a Ugandan government spokesman, told reporters here that police have issued arrest warrants for Chris Mubiru, who is alleged to have been sexually abusing minors.
"Government is therefore appealing to the public who have empirical evidence regarding these heinous acts by a one Chris Mubiru and others to report to the Police," he said.
Defilement is punishable according to Ugandan law. Any person who attempts to perform a sexual act with another person who is below the age of 18 years commits an offense and is, on conviction, liable to imprisonment not exceeding 18 years.
According to the government, available video images indicate that Mubiru seemed to have been luring minors into sexual harassment.
Police say Mubiru is now believed to have fled the East African country on Saturday to the United States or Canada.
"In this regard, Uganda Police has sent out a request to INTERPOL to arrest Mr Mubiru wherever he has escaped to and hand him over to Uganda Police for further interrogation," he said.
The arrest warrants come at a time when an anti-gay bill is scheduled to be debated by the Ugandan Parliament.
The bill in its original form called for a death sentence for people engaging in aggravated homosexual acts and those perceived to be "promoting" homosexuality.
These clauses have since been dropped following international pressure.
Leaders from the U.S., Britain and Canada have expressed strong concerns and vocally opposed the bill, citing human rights violations.
Several Western countries have threatened to withhold development assistance to Uganda if the bill is passed.
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