Uganda - A Ugandan MP has revived a controversial anti-gay bill but dropped the provision
for the death penalty for certain homosexual acts.

A BBC correspondent says MPs laughed, clapped and cried out: "Our bill, our bill," when its
architect David Bahati reintroduced the draft legislation on Tuesday.

The Anti-Homosexuality Bill was shelved in 2011 after an international outcry.

 It still increases the punishment to life in prison for homosexual offences.

Homosexual acts are already illegal in Uganda - a largely conservative society, where many
condemn homosexuality.

Anyone failing to report to the authorities a person they knew to be homosexual would also
be liable to prosecution.

The BBC's Joshua Mmali in the capital, Kampala, says Mr Bahati, the primary backer of the
bill, has confirmed the draft legislation has changed in one fundamental way.

Those found guilty of "aggravated homosexuality" - defined as when one of the participants is a minor, HIV-positive, disabled or a "serial offender" - would no longer face the death penalty, as originally proposed.

A parliamentary committee recommended the revision, after the original legislation was
condemned by Western leaders, including Barack Obama who described it as "odious", and
threatened to cut off aid to Uganda.