Kampala - Uganda is tightening its internet security
after hackers attacked the prime minister's website to post statements
supporting gay rights, the country's internet regulator said on Friday.
Activists
hacked into the website of the prime minister's office earlier this
week and posted a fake press release announcing the minister's support
for a gay pride parade.
"Our first priority is to apply all
necessary resources to give all institutions, the tools, processes and
support they require to strengthen the security of their IT systems in
case of any incident," Uganda's National Information Technology
Authority said in a statement.
Pro-gay activists targeted Uganda
after a controversial bill that would see certain homosexual acts
punished by the death penalty was re-introduced to parliament earlier
this year.
Homosexuality is already illegal in Uganda, but the
proposed legislation has previously attracted heavy criticism for the
draconian penalties it proposed.
It would introduce the death
sentence for anyone caught engaging in homosexual acts for the second
time, as well as for gay sex where one partner is a minor or has HIV.
The statement posted online claimed to be from the prime minister's office and condemned widespread homophobia in Uganda.
"We
have got to expel the narrow mindedness from this country, and begin
afresh, starting with a full and formal apology to all homosexuals
living in Uganda today," the statement, purporting to be from Prime
Minister Amama Mbabazi, said.
The statement had been removed from the website as of Friday.