By contrast with the predominantly Muslim areas in North Africa and the Horn region, traditional cultures and religions in much of Sub-Saharan Africa have generally exhibited a more liberal attitude vis-a-vis female out-marriage sexual activity. The latter includes practices such as multiple sexual partners and unprotected sex, high-risk cultural patterns that have been implicated in the much greater spread of HIV in the region.[25]

HIV infection rates in East and Central Africa are generally moderate to high. Uganda has registered a gradual decrease in its HIV rates from 10.6% in 1997, to a stabilized 6.5%-7.0% since 2001.[1][25] This has been attributed to changing local behavioral patterns, with more respondents reporting greater use of contraceptives[citation needed] and a two-year delay in first sexual activity as well as fewer people reporting casual sexual encounters and multiple partners.[25] Similarly, the HIV infection rate in Kenya dropped from around 14% in the mid-1990s to 5% in 2006. Between 2004-2008, Tanzania had a prevalence rate of 3.4%, with Rwanda maintaining a regional low of about 3.0% since 2005.[1]

Bahati re-introduced a mildly watered-down second draft in February and is confident of a "yes" vote even though the bill's progress has stalled at committee level.

The death sentence clause is gone, as is the demand Ugandans report gays to the authorities, he told Reuters.