The makings of a witch hunt are brewing in Uganda. Just one day after President Yoweri Museveni passed a bill imposing harsh punishments for homosexuality, a newspaper tabloid published a list outing dozens of suspected gay Ugandans.

Under the headline "EXPOSED", The Red Pepper listed 200 individuals accused of homosexuality, including many of the country's prominent gay rights activists, and a number of celebrities. Many are worried that the paper will incite violence against these people. In 2011, a similar list published by the now defunct Ugandan Rolling Stone resulted in the death of gay rights spokesman David Kato.

Uganda has long had a problem with homophobia. Homosexuality is illegal in the country, although the penalties put in place by this new law are the harshest seen yet. Gay acts are now punishable with a life sentence, and "conspiracy to commit homosexuality" carries a seven-year term. Anyone accused of "promoting homosexuality" can also receive jail time.

Museveni was influenced to sign the law into effect after ordering Ugandan scientists to conduct a study of the genetic basis for homosexuality. They concluded that it was homosexuality was a matter of choice.

Museveni shared his opinions on gay people during an interview with CNN.

"They're disgusting. What sort of people are they?" Meseveni said. "I never knew what they were doing. I've been told recently that what they do is terrible. Disgusting. But I was ready to ignore that if there was proof that that's how he is born, abnormal. But now the proof is not there."

Religious fundamentalism is thought to greatly contribute to the attitude towards gays in Uganda, influenced by U.S. evangelicals and Christian right-wing groups' anti-gay rhetoric. And Uganda is not alone in its strong stance against homosexuality. Thirty-eight African countries have declared it illegal.

Museveni and others view homosexual behavior as "unnatural" and blame Westerners for corrupting their population with homosexuality.

The United States has strongly condemned Uganda's new law.

"Instead of standing on the side of freedom, justice, and equal rights for its people, today, regrettably, Ugandan President Museveni took Uganda a step backward by signing into law legislation criminalizing homosexuality," said a statement from the White House. "As President Obama has said, this law is more than an affront and a danger to the gay community in Uganda, it reflects poorly on the country's commitment to protecting the human rights of its people and will undermine public health, including efforts to fight HIV/AIDS. We will continue to urge the Ugandan government to repeal this abhorrent law and to advocate for the protection of the universal human rights of LGBT persons in Uganda and around the world."