Uganda's foreign minister has been elected president of the UN General Assembly's 69th session, sidestepping criticism from US activists opposed to its tough anti-gay laws.
Sam Kutesa was acclaimed president unopposed on Wednesday and to a round of applause from member states, then congratulated by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon four months after the legislation was signed.
Harangued by the media afterwards, Kutesa was forced to deny allegations of personal corruption and that he is homophobic.
Kutesa stepped down as foreign minister in 2011 for 10 months after prosecutors filed graft charges against him over a $US4.8 million hotel deal for a 2007 Commonwealth summit in Kampala.
Asked about his views on gays, Kutesa said he had "no problem" with them, so long as they kept their homosexual behaviour behind doors.
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He accused Uganda's political opposition at home and abroad of trying "to malign my name".
"I have never been found corrupt. I'm not homophobic and I believe I'm an astute person to lead this organisation for the next session," Kutesa added.
The Ugandan minister was nominated by the African group of nations whose turn it was to take on the presidency.
More than 13,200 people have signed an online petition against his presidency, calling on the US to revoke his visa.
The US-based Human Rights Campaign, which promotes lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equal rights, has called Kutesa's tenure "a black mark on the United Nations' commitment to protect the human rights of all individuals.
"It's deeply disturbing that a man who calls LGBT people 'disgusting' and played such a critical role in the promotion and passage of Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Act is assuming this post," the group said on its website.
The bill, signed by Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni in February, calls for "repeat homosexuals" to be jailed for life, outlaws the promotion of homosexuality and obliges citizens to denounce gay individuals to the authorities.
The law drew international condemnation.
