Uganda Against Homosexuality 01/07/10 By News Editor
In Uganda, where homosexuality is already outlawed, the government is trying to pass a bill that would execute repeat offenders, or those homosexuals who have sex with minors or are HIV positive. Homosexuality, now punishable by a 14-year sentence, would receive lifetime imprisonment. If the bill is passed, arguing for the rights of the LGBT community will be punishable by up to seven years.
Those aware of LGBT people, or even those who support their rights, but do not report to the police within 24 hours, may receive a three-year prison sentence. Some say this will create a witchhunt.
Many believe this has come in part from the US evangelists’ influence, pushing their anti-gay agenda throughout Africa.
While most evangelicals clarify they were not pushing for the death penalty, but rather more ‘curative’ approaches, they were pushing for tougher laws. A seminar on homosexuality in March featured US evangelists Don Schmierer (writer), Caleb Lee Brundidge (sexual reorientation coach), and Scott Lively (Defend the Family International, writer of The Pink Swastika).
Lively claims otherwise, that the harsh bill is Uganda’s reaction to international pressure to normalize homosexuality. The Ugandan pastor organizing the event petitioned against the gays who were ‘recruiting school children.’
George ‘Georgina’ Oundo confessed to such activity at the seminar, claiming he is now a cured heterosexual. Others claim he is pawning himself to the highest bidder, having been an advocate for homosexuality for years until he decided he was not being given enough money. Oundo was arrested in September 2008 for recruitment, but released with pressure from human rights groups. Afterward, he had no one to provide for him.
Now, however, he claims the gay recruitment groups grant ‘much money’, training abroad, and targeting needy children. Eight others have followed Oundo and confessed to recruiting as well, all of whom Oundo says were spurned by the LGBT community.
HIV campaigns have noted how hard this will make it to help control AIDS within the LGBT community. The evangelical influence already panders more toward abstinence, which the scientific community finds hazardous. With homosexuality already outlawed, the campaigns do not bother reaching out; many gay men accordingly do not understand HIV’s danger, and under the bill would have no incentive to be checked. Prescribing the death penalty for HIV positive homosexuals will only worsen the epidemic.
Homosexuality is condemned throughout Africa. Burundi, though they abolished the death penalty, recently criminalized homosexuality, while Nigeria and Sudan have reportedly considered execution for it. Reports have surfaced of Rwanda attempting to pass a similar measure, but Rwandan officials have said no such bill was discussed.
Numerous international leaders have condemned the bill, and Sweden has said they will rethink their $50 million annual aid. Religious leaders as well, including the Vatican, have spoken against it, though many figureheads in Africa view this as an opportunity to stand in solidarity, proving their morality to the world.
David Bahati, the Member of Parliament who introduced the bill, has expressed most of Africa’s view toward LGBT behavior, “We do not recognize homosexuality as a human right… We recognize it as a learned behavior which can be unlearned.”
Though the bill refers to homosexuality of all kind, Minister of State for Ethics and Integrity James Nsaba Buturo addresses male homosexuality, “"We used to say Mr and Mrs, but now it is Mr and Mr. What is that now? .... We are talking about anal sex. Not even animals do that." This has been shown to be wrong.
Martin Ssempa, Pastor and AIDS activist under PEPFAR, in defending the bill, addresses the children, “Indeed the headlines that say Ugandan law to kill gays, is deliberately misleading. It should really say, Uganda law proposes capital sentence for Men with HIV who rape boys and infect them with HIV/AIDS just as it is for heterosexuals who rape girls.”
The text of the bill differs with his sentiment. And while President Yoweri Museveni’s officials have promised he will veto the bill should it come to his desk, there are ways around the president, just as in US law, and many are worried of the political pressure to support the bill. Lawmakers wanted to pass the law before this year’s end, but recent reports indicate a wait until the February session to debate the bill.
The International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission has organized an action alert to e-mail and/or write political leaders in protest. Click here to notify up to nine Ugandan officials and others.
