A Ugandan MP, who was behind the infamous “Kill The Gays” bill, was awarded for being one of the few female leaders in Africa.

Rebecca Kadaga is the House Speaker in the Ugandan parliament and last week received an award at Porticullis House, which is part of the British Parliament estate.

Kadanga led the Ugandan movement to criminalise homosexuality and most recently blocked discussion around LGBT+ issues at the 139th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly, an international organization of parliaments which assembles all of the world’s democracies.

Kadaga was presented with the award at the recent London Political Summit, held by Ring4Change, which is “an international pro-democratic, non-partisan, non-governmental and non-profit Organisation which advance and promote positive change in governance.”

The Summit’s director Godson Azu defended the decision to present the homophobic Ugandan MP with the award, saying, “This award doesn’t have anything to do with her homophobic views.

“She is a remarkable woman parliamentarian and her record to improve the situation in Uganda is very good. We thought she’s been a strong political figure and that’s why we gave her the award.”

Azu also tried to argue that the summit has “liberally minded view of sexuality,” but still decided to celebrate Kadaga as she “has made a lot of change for Uganda and that should be commended.”

“Everybody has a right to believe in what they want,” Azu added.

Edwin Sesange, a well-known African LGBT+ advocate, criticised the decision to award the Ugandan MP: “I totally agree that people should be awarded or recognized for their good work. Unfortunately, I don’t think there is a standard threshold followed by some of these awarding bodies.

“Kadaga’s actions have made some LGBTI Ugandans flee their homes, led to discrimination, torture, persecution, prosecution and possibly loss of life for Ugandan LGBTI people.”

The ceremony took place at Parliament House in London, the same place where the Equality Act and same-sex marriage became law.

“The UK parliament cannot have it both ways, first claiming to be the most progressive and LGBTI-friendly parliament in the world at the same time holding award functions for the most anti-LGBTI legislator in the world,” said Sesange.

“The award to honour Kadaga in the British Parliament was a big setback in the struggle for LGBTI equality,” he added.