Uganda gay, lesbian, bi and trans community may not face the death penalty should they be convicted of homosexual acts, now that President Yoweri Museveni has come out saying he opposed the provision in the legislation. But gay rights advocates are still quick to point out that this opposition does not make the bill any less repressive.

President Yoweri Museveni has told colleagues he believes the bill is too harsh and has encouraged his ruling National Resistance Movement Party to overturn the death sentence provision, which would apply to sexually active gays living with HIV or in cases of same-sex rape according to a copy of the draft law.

The proposed bill, though, says anyone convicted of a homosexual act – which includes touching someone of the same sex with the intent of committing a homosexual act – would face life imprisonment. It is unclear whether Museveni supports that provision or not.

London-based gay-rights activist Peter Tatchell said even if the death penalty is removed from the bill, it will still contradict several major international conventions on human rights, which could cause donors to reduce their aid to Uganda.

The new bill, he said, builds on Uganda’s prohibitions against homosexuality by including Ugandans living abroad and by expanding the definition of homosexual acts to include touching. The draft law stipulates that Ugandans abroad can be extradited and punished.

“Even a softened bill will be extremely repressive and discriminatory,” Tatchell told The Associated Press. “Even before this new law, homosexual relations were punishable by life imprisonment and there was widespread homophobic discrimination and mob violence. The status quo won’t change.”

A top Ugandan minister has also come out in opposition to the death penalty provision, favoring counseling.

“The death penalty is likely to be removed,” said James Nsaba Buturo, Uganda’s minister of state for ethics and integrity. “The president doesn’t believe in killing gays. I also don’t believe in it. I think gays can be counseled and they stop the bad habit.”