Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni told the U.S. Departmentof State he would work to prevent a proposed antigay bill from becoming law inhis country and he would veto the controversial legislation should it come tohis desk, DC Agenda reports.

The proposed law would make acts of homosexuality punishableby life imprisonment and even death for “repeat offenders” of homosexualactivities and HIV-positive LGBT people.

According to the article, State Department spokesperson JonTollefson said Museveni gave Johnnie Carson, the U.S. assistant secretary ofstate for African affairs, assurances during an October 24 meeting.

“The assistant secretary… expects President Museveni to liveup to his reputation as a leader in the HIV/AIDS struggle in Africa,” Tollefsonsaid.