Uganda: 'Kill The Gays' bill must be made law now
A former minister has launched a campaign urging politicians to
learn from the 'heroic actions' of Ghana, Nigeria and Russia and
'protect Ugandan citizens'
06 December 2013 | By Joe Morgan
A former Uganda ‘ethics and integrity’ minister has said the ‘Kill The Gays’ bill must be made law now.
James Nsaba Buturo has urged members of parliament to stop debating and pass the long-delayed Anti-Homosexuality Bill.
Speaking this week, the politician has said LGBTI supporters are on a ‘propaganda spree’ to stop the Uganda bill passing.
‘Homosexuality supporters...are using every known international institution to threaten their opponents to normalize the act,’ Buturo told reporters.
He claims LGBT supporters have ‘bribed and threatened the weak and fearful’ Ugandan government.
He believes David Bahati, the politician who authored the original 2009 bill, has been pressured to keep quiet about it.
‘A test of MPs’ true commitment to protecting the people’s interests will be assessed in their readiness to pass the bill without any further delay,’ Buturo added.
His new political group is planning on lobbying voters across the country to campaign for the bill to be passed into law.
The former minister said Ugandan politicians should learn from the ‘heroic actions’ of their counterparts in Ghana, Nigeria and Russia who have passed homophobic laws to ‘protect their citizens’.
Last year, speaker Rebecca Kadaga promised she would pass the ‘Kill The Gays’ bill as a ‘Christmas present’ to the Ugandan people.
While Uganda already punishes LGBTs with life imprisonment for having gay sex, the new law would mean they would face the death penalty if they were a ‘repeat offender’.
But a vote never happened, leaving some to believe it was either an empty threat or afraid the country could not survive without vital international aid.
The Anti-Homosexuality Bill eventually dropped off the parliamentary order of business paper around May, although it did make infrequent appearances at later dates.
Gay rights campaigners in Uganda have told GSN politicians could once again consider the ‘Kill The Gays’ bill depending on the trial of gay Brit Bernard Randall.
Prior to the trial, other LGBTI experts in the country have said they never expect the bill to become law.
The 65-year-old, facing trial for trafficking in obscene publications, had his laptop computer stolen and images of him in bed with another man were published in a Uganda tabloid.
Now described as an ‘illegal alien’, Randall says he is being fined £18, ($29, €21) every day, subject to deportation at any moment and will never be able to return to Uganda.
Facing a two year prison sentence, his postponed court date will take place on 16 December.
James Nsaba Buturo has urged members of parliament to stop debating and pass the long-delayed Anti-Homosexuality Bill.
Speaking this week, the politician has said LGBTI supporters are on a ‘propaganda spree’ to stop the Uganda bill passing.
‘Homosexuality supporters...are using every known international institution to threaten their opponents to normalize the act,’ Buturo told reporters.
He claims LGBT supporters have ‘bribed and threatened the weak and fearful’ Ugandan government.
He believes David Bahati, the politician who authored the original 2009 bill, has been pressured to keep quiet about it.
‘A test of MPs’ true commitment to protecting the people’s interests will be assessed in their readiness to pass the bill without any further delay,’ Buturo added.
His new political group is planning on lobbying voters across the country to campaign for the bill to be passed into law.
The former minister said Ugandan politicians should learn from the ‘heroic actions’ of their counterparts in Ghana, Nigeria and Russia who have passed homophobic laws to ‘protect their citizens’.
Last year, speaker Rebecca Kadaga promised she would pass the ‘Kill The Gays’ bill as a ‘Christmas present’ to the Ugandan people.
While Uganda already punishes LGBTs with life imprisonment for having gay sex, the new law would mean they would face the death penalty if they were a ‘repeat offender’.
But a vote never happened, leaving some to believe it was either an empty threat or afraid the country could not survive without vital international aid.
The Anti-Homosexuality Bill eventually dropped off the parliamentary order of business paper around May, although it did make infrequent appearances at later dates.
Gay rights campaigners in Uganda have told GSN politicians could once again consider the ‘Kill The Gays’ bill depending on the trial of gay Brit Bernard Randall.
Prior to the trial, other LGBTI experts in the country have said they never expect the bill to become law.
The 65-year-old, facing trial for trafficking in obscene publications, had his laptop computer stolen and images of him in bed with another man were published in a Uganda tabloid.
Now described as an ‘illegal alien’, Randall says he is being fined £18, ($29, €21) every day, subject to deportation at any moment and will never be able to return to Uganda.
Facing a two year prison sentence, his postponed court date will take place on 16 December.
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