US group, Bishop Tutu ‘compel’ Museveni not to sign anti-gay Bill
http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/US-group--Bishop-Tutu-compel-Museveni-not-to-sign-anti-gay-Bill/-/688334/2153380/-/s3db9gz/-/index.html
By ISMAIL MUSA LADU
Posted Tuesday, January 21 2014 at 02:00Kampala
Posted Tuesday, January 21 2014 at 02:00Kampala
President Museveni has for the second time in as many weeks not only reiterated his displeasure over the Anti-Homosexuality Bill which was passed by Parliament late last month, but also reaffirmed his earlier position that he will not sign the legislation into law in its current shape.
It is understood that several secret diplomatic maneuvers being facilitated by powerful organisations in the West, among them Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights and the vocal South African Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu have been applying pressure on President Museveni, compelling him to withhold his signature on the anti-gay Bill.
According to the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights (RFK Center) statement, Mr Museveni is quoted to have said he is planning to introduce a new legislation that will focus on protecting the minors from being sexually exploited.
“President Museveni pledged to reject the Bill as currently drafted, calling the legislation “fascist.” The President stated that he will consult with his party and plans to introduce a new piece of legislation aimed at protecting minors from being coerced into sexual activity,” the RFK press statement quoted the President Museveni as having said.
The delegation from the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights (RFK Center) met with President Museveni on Saturday at State House, Entebbe, to discuss the Anti-Homosexuality Bill passed by Parliament on December 20, 2013.
This followed last month written request by Kerry Kennedy, president of the RFK Center, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu to the President expressing their concern over the Bill, appealling for further discussion on the matter.
However, the Presidential Press Secretary, Mr Tamale Mirundi refuted claims that the President’s position on the anti-gay Bill was as a result of sustained pressure from the powerful lobby groups from Western countries.
On Christmas Day Museveni said before assenting to the Bill, he would check “it is not right” then he would send it back to Parliament. Earlier in the year he told the NRM caucus that he had had a 45-minute telephone call from then US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton about the Bill.
Posted Tuesday, January 21 2014 at 02:00
Mukono
Pray for South Sudan, Museveni tells pastors
http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Pray-for-South-Sudan--Museveni-tells-pastors/-/688334/2153388/-/m4xfmbz/-/index.html
By Jessica Sabano
Posted Tuesday, January 21 2014 at 02:00
Mukono
President Museveni has requested pastors in greater Mukono to pray for peace in South Sudan to enable Ugandans regain their businesses and foreign exchange.
President Museveni said South Sudan has been a great market for locally produced goods, especially agricultural products, and that the country has been earning a lot of foreign exchange from it. However, the President said, since the civil war broke out, business has come to a standstill, causing unemployment and loss of foreign exchange.
This was in message read for the President by Mr Ronald Kibuule, the State minister for Youth Affairs, to pastors from the four districts of Mukono, Kayunga, Buikwe and Buvuma who had gathered at Summer Gardens in Mukono Town at the weekend to design means through which they will work collectively to promote, peace, love and unity amongst themselves and their followers.
The President urged born-again leaders in the area to sensitise their followers, especially the youth, on values of hard work, proper hygiene and good feeding to help reduce on the health budget as many diseases that affect people can be avoided.
He offered them Shs5 million to initiate income-generating projects to fight poverty.
The head of the organising committee, Pastor Samuel Lwandasa of Mt Lebanon church, praised the government for allowing freedom of worship in Uganda and said this has given the born-again Christians chance to exercise their rights and also contribute to development through uniting people and establishing schools.
The head of the organising committee, Pastor Samuel Lwandasa of Mt Lebanon church, praised the government for allowing freedom of worship in Uganda and said this has given the born-again Christians chance to exercise their rights and also contribute to development through uniting people and establishing schools.
Pastor Lwandasa said the pastors’ meeting shall be held every year to enable them scrutinise themselves and improve on their performance.