Uganda’s strong anti-gay laws have been “blown out of proportion” in the West, new High Commissioner Dinah Grace Akello said this morning.

The new High Commissioner was asked by timesofmalta.com about the laws after presenting her letters of credence to President George Abela at the Palace in Valletta.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni signed a bill in late February that toughened already strict punishments for gay people.

Homosexuals in Uganda now face a life sentence for certain violations and it has become a crime to not report anyone who breaks the law.

“We respect every country’s laws. Uganda is not going to prosecute the world with our own laws,” the High Commissioner said.

“I’m sure the Maltese people will respect other people’s laws like we respect the Maltese laws,” Ms Akello added.

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