Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has taken a crucial step to combat the gruesome practice of human organ theft in the country.
Uganda’s health minister, Jane Aceng, announced on Tuesday that Museveni has approved a new law aimed at curbing the stealing of human organs and tissues. The law comes as a response to disturbing reports of women being deceived into unnecessary surgeries, only to have their organs, particularly kidneys, sold in global trafficking networks.
Expressing gratitude, Minister Aceng acknowledged Museveni’s support in signing the Uganda Human Organ Donation and Transplant Bill 2023. She emphasized that this legislation would enable Uganda to embark on a new era of organ transplant while ensuring better regulation in the field.
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The law arrives amid controversy surrounding the Ugandan government’s recent enactment of one of the world’s most stringent anti-LGBTQ measures, which triggered widespread international condemnation. The legislation includes provisions that impose the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality.”
The newly enacted donation and transplant law represents a significant milestone for Uganda. As the country’s first legislation of its kind, it explicitly prohibits any commercial activities involving human organs and tissues. Violators of the law can face severe penalties, including life imprisonment and substantial fines.
With the implementation of this law, Uganda seeks to protect its citizens from the horrific crime of organ theft and ensure the ethical and regulated practice of organ transplantation in the country.
