UNITED NATIONS, United States - United Nations chief Antonio Guterres on Tuesday said he was "very concerned" after Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni signed an anti-gay law described as among the world's harshest.
"The secretary-general has been very clear and continues to call on all member states to uphold the Universal Declaration of Human Rights," Guterres's spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters.
"He again calls on all countries to decriminalize consensual same-sex relationships and trans and transgender people everywhere.
"To put it clearly, no one should be penalized, jailed, criminalized for whom they love."
Museveni defied warnings that approving the bill against homosexuality would strain ties between Kampala and key international partners and aid donors.
Dujarric said any potential effect on UN operations in Uganda was being assessed, even suggesting some work could halt.
"Our country team there continues to be in a dialogue with the government to see how this will impact. It'll be up to different UN agencies to decide on the path forward," he said.
"I think UNAIDS has expressed its concern about the impact that would have on its fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS.
"Each agency will take the decisions they need to take within their mandate to see how their activities can or cannot continue."
Among other harsh measures, the new law prescribes a death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality" in certain circumstances, although Uganda has not carried out capital punishment for many years.