Amid an international outcry against a bill to harshen penalties for those found to be gay, the Ugandan Prime Minister has spoken out to say gay people are “abnormal”, and using a derogatory term to describe disabled children.

Speaking in the video, Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi appeared at the Foreign Affairs Ministry to make the comments. He had been meeting with ambassadors and foreign ministers.

He said: “I think in our traditions, and this is what I believe. Homosexuality is treated as an abnormality. Given that as a fact, how do we treat abnormalities in our society. Do you kill them? If you identify an abnormality and you say ‘let’s kill these abnormals’, my conclusion is that you are the one that is abnormal….They need help. How do you treat your children who are born as mongols? Do you execute them, imprison them for life?”

“Mongols” is an archaic derogatory term originally used to describe people with Down’s Sydrome.

In December, Uganda’s Parliament passed legislation to toughen the punishment for same-sex sexual activity, including life imprisonment for ‘repeat offenders’.

It extends the current penalty of life imprisonment for anal sex to all other same-sex acts, even mere kissing and touching. The law introduces jail terms of five to seven years for promoting homosexuality, including advocating LGBT rights or assisting LGBT people or events.

The UK and US governments have already criticised the move along with business magnate and investor Sir Richard Branson – who has urged for a corporate boycott of Uganda.

Last week the United Nations warned the President of Uganda against signing the country’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill into law.

Speaking at a Christmas prayers event, Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni said he would push the bill back to Parliament if he did not agree with it.

However, President Museveni is facing intense pressure from Ugandan MPs to sign the bill.

It is possible for parliamentary supporters of the bill to bypass the need for presidential approval if a further vote is tabled. They require a two-thirds majority.

LGBT campaigners will stage a protest on 8 January outside the Ugandan High Commission in London’s Trafalgar Square.