Anti-gays groups organise prayers
By EPHRAIM KASOZI
Posted Wednesday, February 26 2014 at 02:00
Posted Wednesday, February 26 2014 at 02:00
In Summary
The groups led by prominent city pastors say God has smiled on Uganda and so the country should celebrate.
Kampala
Kampala
Anti-gays activists have mobilised Ugandans to join in a peaceful match that will culminate into a thanksgiving celebration to extol God for government assenting to the Anti-Homosexuality Bill into law.
The “United Against Homosexuality” activists said yesterday the activities are intended to show solidarity with the stakeholders who worked towards the enactment of the law.
They singled out the Speaker of Parliament, Ms Rebecca Kadaga, who presided over Parliament that passed the law and President Museveni who signed the Bill into Law during a televised ceremony on Monday.
They singled out the Speaker of Parliament, Ms Rebecca Kadaga, who presided over Parliament that passed the law and President Museveni who signed the Bill into Law during a televised ceremony on Monday.
Former Ethics and Integrity Minister, Dr James Nsaba Buturo said the celebration slated for March 4 this year at Kololo is to prove that the country’s long historical struggle against institutionalised homosexuality has succeeded.
“We have been saddened as we watched helplessly precious lives and the health of our children and youth being violated and damaged with impunity by the perpetrators of homosexuality,” said Dr Buturo flanked by Pastors Martin Ssempa and Dr Joseph Sserwadda.
Dr Sserwadda described President Museveni’s act as a brave and clear show of the value he attaches to the wishes and aspirations of Ugandans.
Dr Sserwadda described President Museveni’s act as a brave and clear show of the value he attaches to the wishes and aspirations of Ugandans.
However, the Executive Director of the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative, Mr Livingstone Sewanyana said: “Our belief is that no law provides a lasting solution to the problem. Our message to Ugandans is that under no circumstance should they accept any act, law or policy that would subordinate their rights to dignity, respect, freedom and privacy.”
In Lira authorities said they would start implementing the law immediately. Mr Andrew Ogwang Oyang, the district Vice Chairman, says they have started identifying those who would go against the law so that they could be punished. “Whoever now comes to fight President Museveni over what he has just concluded- should be interpreted as someone who has come to fight Ugandans,” Mr Ogwang said.
In Karamoja sub-region, the community thanked President Museveni for signing the Homosexuality Bill describing him as a leader who respects the tradition and cultures of the people of Uganda.
John Lopus an elder and cattle keeper in Loputuk village in Moroto district advised president Museveni to always stand firm to defend Uganda against ugly practices. “We shall always be behind president Museveni whenever he rejects any ugly culture trying to enter Uganda,” he said.
![Photo: The HATE Campaign: Ugandan paper publishes a list of supposedly 200 Gays... A combination of HATE, Christian homophobic euphoria, frenzy, and zealotry is CERTAINLY going to result in lynchings and Mob justice against gays in Uganda, similar to experiences in Nigeria. This is of serious concern, as people get frustrated with the slow implementation of the anti-gay law...]()
Norway cuts Shs20b aid over anti-gays law
By TABU BUTAGIRA
Posted Wednesday, February 26 2014 at 02:00
Posted Wednesday, February 26 2014 at 02:00
KAMPALA
The Norwegian government has withdrawn Shs20b in budget support to Uganda over the Anti-Homosexuality law President Museveni assented to on Monday.
“The new law violates fundamental human rights and the Ugandan Constitution,” the country’s Foreign Affairs minister, Mr Børge Brende, said. “We will hold back around Norwegian Kroner 50m of our aid to Uganda...we will increase our support to human rights and democracy defenders,” reads a statement by Kyrre Holm, the First Secretary at the Norwegian Embassy.
Both The Netherlands and Denmark were reported to be considering slashing their aid package to Uganda, having frozen development assistance in 2012 over pilfering of $13m by bureaucrats in the Office of the Prime Minister.
The developments follow announcement by the US and Sweden that they are reviewing their assistance to Uganda too. “...we are beginning an internal review of our relationship with the government of Uganda to ensure that all dimensions of our engagement, including assistance programmes, uphold our anti-discrimination policies and principles and reflect our values,” US Secretary of State John Kerry said in a statement on Monday.
The White House said Mr Museveni, by signing into law a legislation criminalising homosexuality, had taken Uganda a “step backward”. Mr Kerry added: “...this law is more than an affront and a danger to the gay community in Uganda; it reflects poorly on the country’s commitment to protecting the human rights of its people and will undermine public health, including efforts to fight HIV/Aids.”
Separately, EU High Representative Catherine Ashton described as “draconian” the legislation criminalising homosexuality, providing up to life sentence for the worst crimes in gay relationships.
President Museveni said individuals who promote homosexuality, those recruited on financial inducement, and those who public exhibit homosexual affection should be punished harshly by the law.
The President castigated Western government for attempting a “social imperialism” by imposing their values on Africans forcibly under the guise of promoting human rights, warning that homosexuality has no place in Uganda.