“Diplomatic representatives from the USA and France are the latest to condemn a recently tabled anti-gay Bill in Uganda, which calls for the death penalty for ‘aggravated homosexuality’,” Ekklesia tells us, adding:
Humanitarian groups have called the legislation “appalling”. But there is deep concern about the number of religious figures inside and outside the country who have supported, condoned or failed to speak out on a measure which the US embassy in Kampala told news agency AFP yesterday (4 November 2009) “would mark a major setback in the promotion of human rights” if it became law.
“If adopted, a bill further criminalising homosexuality would constitute a significant step backwards for the protection of human rights in Uganda,” the embassy’s public affairs officer Joann Lockard declared.
The psychopath concerned is an MP called David Bahati. Another who has no regard for human rights – who, indeed, is “tired” of the very phrase – is the man laughingly called the Ethics Minister, James Nsaba Buturo, who, says Ekklesia, “said the country had no intention of heeding the advice of foreigners on the issue of homosexuality – despite the huge amount of international assistance the country receives and the language of partnership used around aid programmes”.
Buturo balked at the notion that the proposed Bill – which, among other things, would criminalise any public discussion of homosexuality and could penalise an individual who knowingly rented property to a homosexual – constituted a human rights violation.
“We are really getting tired of this phrase human rights,” he said.
Yes, human rights are very inconvenient, aren’t they, Mr Buturo?
2 comments:
I gather the US gay community is starting to urge Obama to think again about a new $256 million aid package to Uganda unless this awful bill is dropped.
As much foreign aid to Uganda is based on the Bush era faith-led principles which let evangelicals get such a hold in the first place, maybe we should be doing the same - both to government bodies and also asking charities who work there what their policy is. I'm constantly amazed too at the number of evangelical charities getting handouts on the pretence of 'helping with health and education' (i.e. brainwashing).
Also, if anyone's minded to tell the Ugandans what they think, the Ugandan High Commission in London has an e-mail address of info@ugandahighcommission.co.uk and the person in charge is Her Excellency Mrs. Joan Rwabyomere, who is apparently 'Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary'.
Thank you, Stuart, for giving details of how we can protest at this vile piece of legislative poison. I will certainly be adding my own protest. It's easy to forget just how awful the situation is for gay and lesbian people in some African countries and we should use our hard-won liberties to campaign on their behalf.
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