HOME | ARCHIVE | EMAIL US | TRAVEL SECTION

UGANDA

We Must Rally Against Uganda Anti-Gay Bill – Ugandan Activist

Commentary by Michael Senyonjo
 

Ugandans and the world must rally against the anti-gay bill [the Anti Homosexuality Bill (2009)], or ‘Bahati Bill’ as is known in Uganda, because the proposed legislation is illegal, drafted in bad faith, too radical and in any case not needed in Uganda.

We must not let extremists take over Uganda and start ruling us Taliban style.  The proposed legislation makes it a criminal offense to engage in a gay relationship, know about such a relationship or know about the possibility of such a relationship and not report it to police.  In other words, the state in Uganda is introducing Sharia law.

Just as we are fighting the Land and Kampala Bills, we must apply the same energy in efforts to resist the anti- gay Bill because it is targeting not only gays buy all Ugandans regardless of their sexual orientation.  The bill is another attack on civil liberties by the Museveni regime in Uganda.

Makerere University Professor Dr. Sylvia Tamale put it more vivid for Ugandans:  “The bill blatantly violates Uganda’s Constitution and many other regional and international instruments.

“It introduces widespread censorship and undermines fundamental freedoms such as the rights to free speech, expression, association and assembly and privacy,” she continued.  “The bill confers authority on Ugandan law enforcers to arrest and charge a Ugandan citizen or permanent resident who engages in homosexual activities outside the borders of Uganda.

“This means that Michael Senyonjo and Jo Blogs who are known opponents of the regime in Kampala can arrive at Entebbe Airport and be arrested because an unknown informer alleged that they are sympathetic to gay and lesbian causes,” Dr. Tamale continued..  Senyonjo would then face seven years in jail.  As simple as that.

“This bill suggests that consenting adult sex is worse than murder… it carries hidden venom that is bound to spread beyond persons that engage in homosexuality.”

The other vehement attack on the bill came from editors of Uganda’s bi-weekly Observer. “The Anti-Homosexuality Bill, now commonly known as ‘Bahati Bill’, would be oppressive and brutal if passed into law by Parliament.  .. The bill is largely radical and seems to be informed by personal aversion towards gay sex.  …  It’s particularly disturbing when the Bill seeks to make every citizen spy on the other and thereby intrude into other people’s privacy.”

This bill is immoral and certainly not wanted by any Ugandan of sound mind because the country has far much more urgent priorities.

Uganda is a country at crisis point.  Our budget is still 50% funded by the European Union, we have 60% unemployment, and 7 million Ugandans are facing starvation with 2 million already starving.  We loose $500 million through government corruption alone and lose more citizens on the road than any other country in the world.

Our country is run by state operatives who torture and murder ordinary citizens at will.  Surely we have enough on our plates.  We do not want MP’s wasting time on issues that were resolved by the constitution 15 years ago and for which there’s more than enough legislation.

Framers and supporters of the anti-gay bill should be in no doubt that we shall fight their latest endeavor to divide and deny Ugandans their rights.

■ Michael Senyonjo is a Ugandan political activist and analyst living in London

CLICK HERE FOR PRINTER FRIENDLY PAGE

Seed Newsvine