Pope Francis has again granted a private audience to Uganda’s Speaker of Parliament Anitah Among.
Ms Among’s meeting with the head of the Catholic Church comes against the backdrop of Uganda’s fallout with several Western countries over the passing of the Anti-Homosexuality Act that saw the speaker slapped with travel bans.
According to the diplomatic note (in Latin -“Note Vebere”) issued by the Apostolic Nunciature in the Federal Republic of Germany to the Office of the Speaker of Parliament Uganda, the meeting will take place on August 25, 2023.
“The office is honoured to transmit the message of the Holy See that His Holiness Pope Francis has granted a Private Audience to the Rt Hon. Among Anita Annet, Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda, on Friday Morning, 25th August 2023,” the note issued on July 25, 2023, reads in part.
“The Apostolic Nunciature wishes to fulfill its duty to convey the following indications to the Embassy of the Republic of Uganda to the Holy See in connection with the above-mentioned Official Visit to the Vatican,” the letter adds.
According to the letter, Ms Among, as per the Vatican protocol, will be received by Cardinal Pietro Cardinal Parolin, the Secretary of State.
The visit comes at a time when the Parliament of Uganda passed the anti-Homosexuality Act, which was later assented to by President Museveni. As a result, several Western countries opposed to the passing of the Bill slapped travel sanctions on the Ugandan Speaker of Parliament.
On May 26, President Museveni signed into law, the anti-gay Bill, kicking off a backlash from the West and also cheers from religious leaders.
The controversial law introduces strict penalties including death for aggravated homosexuality, as well as imprisonment of up to 20 years for acts of homosexuality, promoting homosexuality, child grooming, and promotion of homosexuality.
This will be Speaker Among’s third meeting with Pope Francis in the last two years.
