Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni signed into law a harsh anti-gay law yesterday that has been the subject of strenuous criticism from rights activists.

He put pen to paper live on TV from his official residence in front of an audience of officials, journalists and scientists — whose report that there was no proven genetic basis for homosexuality apparently prompted Mr Museveni to support the law.

The Bill, which originally called for the death penalty for some homosexual acts, caused an international outcry, though it is largely popular in Uganda.

First-time “offenders” now face 14 years in prison while those guilty of “aggravated homosexuality” could spend the rest of their life behind bars.

Promoting homosexuality or aiding and abetting people to carry out same-sex acts will be punishable by up to seven years in jail, while failing to report breaches of the law within 24 hours could result in a three-year sentence.

British-based charity Aids Alliance warned that the president had “blood on his hands” for driving gay people away from the healthcare they need.

And EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said she was “deeply concerned” about the news.

“The EU deplores discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. It is firmly committed to fundamental human rights,” she claimed.

But Mr Museveni hit out at his critics’ “attempt at social imperialism.”

He accused “arrogant and careless Western groups” of trying to