Global LGBT Rights Advocate says Death Penalty still a threat in Uganda Bill

Nov. 24, 2012 - PRLog -- Ugandan Parliament Debates Anti-Gay Bill and makes amendment to death penalty clause:

Commenting on the situation,  Global LGBT Advocate Omar Kuddus gave the following  written commentary:

"The Ugandan government has come under fire from religious and opposition leaders for wasting time on a bill that seeks to punish homosexuality instead of addressing pressing issues.

The Ugandan Government has been debating vigorously for the last few weeks the introduction of the notorious “kill Bill” but finally it is coming clear  -  under pressure from religious and opposition leaders  -   what the true reason has been for such concentration on the bill: To differ attention from the pressing issues of corruption and the misappropriation of funds by the government.

The Ugandan parliament has been debating a proposed law which when first introduced in 2009 proposed the death penalty for homosexuality;   this has now been amended to introduce life imprisonment instead, with the exception of certain circumstances.

However despite reports in the media, the draft proposals of the law in the public domain and sources within the country maintained that the death sentence could still be applied in some circumstances.

The proposed law will broaden the criminalization of same-sex relationships by dividing homosexuality into two categories:

1.      Aggravated homosexuality
2.      The offence of homosexuality.

‘Aggravated homosexuality’ is defined as homosexual acts committed by: parents or authority figures, paedophiles, HIV-positive people and repeat offenders.

Those who are convicted of ‘Aggravated homosexuality ’will face the death penalty. This however is cause for alarm as neither “HIV-positive people” or “repeat offenders" is  explained;  leaving both open to abuse.

The ‘offence of homosexuality’ includes same-sex sexual acts or being in a gay relationship, and will be prosecuted by life imprisonment.

Religious leaders and members of the National Coalition Against Homosexuality and Sexual Abuses in Uganda (NCAHSAU),  have said that the proposed law would not end homosexuality and the Ugandan Governments critics are stating that country already has sufficient laws against homosexuality that are seldom used.

Solomon Male, the director of NCAHSAU (which he claims was set up to fight for the rights of victims of homosexuality) is reported to have said in regards to the bill (that has drawn worldwide condemnation):

"The basis of our anti-homosexuality initiatives since 2006, which culminated in the formation of our organisation, was to sensitise the public about the challenge and dangers of homosexuality and sexual abuses.

"It led to some politicians coming up with a hurried populist, opportunistic and hypocritical bill against homosexuality, which is now before parliament."

Solomon Male has previously claimed “many youths” were being lured into homosexuality while at school and in churches and accused security agencies of covering up alleged “activities” of prominent people .

Additionally he is accusing MP David Bahati (who originated the bill) of riding on the popularity of their campaign to further his political interests.
"As the national campaign against homosexuality became popular, Honourable David Bahati and his team came up with the anti-homosexuality bill 2009,"

"Although it may have been well intentioned, we feel that it will not achieve what many Ugandans think it will achieve.

"It is a waste of precious time, financial and other resources that should have been applied more productively elsewhere."

Speaking on Uganda’s existing anti homosexuality laws Male maintained that were adequate to deal with people who force others into homosexuality citing section 145 of the Penal Code which criminalises same sex relationships and "unnatural sex."

"Our Penal Code has very good laws, sufficient to address homosexuality and abuse of children, which the proposed law is purportedly intended to address."


Wafula Ogutu spokesperson for Forum for Democratic Change states that the passing of the bill must not be regarded as an urgent matter.

"The anti-gay bill is not an urgent problem in the country,"
"Those focusing on it are being irrelevant, instead of focusing on issues that are important like an increase in corruption cases." "The government should focus on constitutional reforms, lack of medicine in hospitals, embezzlement of funds,"

It is my opinion that the Ugandan government is focusing on the introduction of the bill to divert attention from the corruption scandal in the country.

Britain, Norway and Ireland have all recently suspended development aid to Uganda citing mounting cases of corruption by government officials as the reason, and NOT the introduction of the anti-gay bill.

However several European countries have threatened to cut aid to Uganda if it passes the law. The UK government has warned Uganda it would face severe reductions in financial help if the law is passed.

It is now up to the International community, LGBT and Human Rights advocates and activists to put pressure on our representative governments, leaders and the United Nations to enforce strict sanctions on Uganda in the form of trade embargos and the stoppage of financial aid, to force the government to respect and uphold Ugandan LGBT citizens UDHR and basic Human Rights.

US President Barack Obama has already described the anti-gay bill  as ‘odious’, and British Prim Minister pledged that the UK would take stern action . British Prime Minister David Cameron threatened that countries that ban homosexuality would lose aid payments (https://apps.facebook.com/theguardian/politics/2011/oct/3...) unless they reform or improve their human rights record and end the ban on homosexuality. He said: ‘We are not just talking about it. We are also saying that British aid should have more strings attached.

‘Britain is one of the premier aid givers in the world. We want to see countries that receive our aid adhering to proper human rights. We are saying that is one of the things that determines our aid policy, and there have been particularly bad examples where we have taken action.’

Canadian politician John Baird has also said the is ‘vile, abhorrent, and offends decency’ but the time for words has surpassed and it is time for action and them to show Uganda that they are not mere words but the introduction of the anti-gay Bill would have dire financial consequences for Uganda.

It is only via financial sanctions (and the US in particular to stop giving Uganda the half a billion dollars in aid) that this abomination against fellow LGBTs shall be stopped.

Diplomacy and words have shown that they do not work but hitting these corrupt politicians in Uganda where it hurts - their pocket will.

It is up to us, not to petition the Ugandan President Museveni of Uganda, Ugandan Parliamentary Speaker Rebecca Kadaga, Members of the Parliament, (or to try and appeal to their sense of morality {which they do not possess} or humanity) but their pocket which needs to be done by petitioning OUR leaders, to do the right thing by introduction of the aforementioned measures and sanctions."

Source:  The Africa Report:

http://www.theafricareport.com/society-and-culture/homose...