President Museveni (6thL) with the American pro-gay group in his Rwakitura home last month
Gay bill: Why MPs fear open vote
Sunday, 31 March 2013 23:22
While the Marriage and Divorce Bill is facing its
fiercest public attack since 2009 when it was first introduced in Parliament,
the opposite has happened with the Anti-homosexuality Bill.
Some 40 lawmakers we spoke to say their
constituents are in full support of the draft law.
"People are saying we need to protect our
culture. Homosexuality has not been approved amongst some of their [donor]
states but they are imposing it on us," said Remigio Achia (Pian county,
Nakapiripirit). We shall not accept this regardless of the implications."
Arinaitwe Rwakajara (Workers) says the bill
should have been passed yesterday.
"We have even delayed to pass this law
because some of these things have to be penalised if we are to protect our
culture and religions," he said.
However, in Sembabule and some parts of Karamoja,
voters have told their representatives not to even ask them about the bill.
"People have told me not to talk about
homosexuality but just to make sure that in my actions I oppose the act,"
said Hanifa Kawooya (Sembabule Woman).
The lawmakers say they consulted voters at the
same time as they gathered views on the controversial Marriage and Divorce
bill.
Closed session
However, The Observer understands that some
lawmakers have toyed with the idea of lobbying Speaker Rebecca Kadaga for a
closed-door session when debate on the bill starts. National Youth MP, Monica
Amoding, told The Observer that some MPs on the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs
committee proposed the move because of the sensitive nature of the bill.
"This subject is very sensitive and some of
us fear that if it is discussed in public view, we will be persecuted for
holding particular views," Amoding said. Not surprisingly, she refused to
state whether she supports the bill.
Another MP, who requested anonymity, explained
that supporting the bill publically could lead to being blacklisted. He cited
David Bahati, the main promoter of the bill, saying the MP has been ostracised
by some elements in the West because of his views.
"We have some projects that are funded by
donors and at the same time we don't want to be misunderstood by voters. So, it
is better to remain silent to avoid being blacklisted," he said.
Surveyed MPs who back the bill
Isabirye Idi (Bunya South,NRM)
Lyndah Timbigamba (Kyenjojo Woman, NRM)
Jovah Kamateka (Mitooma Woman,NRM)
Cyrus Amodoi (Toroma, Indep)
Barnabas Tinkasiimire (Buyaga West, NRM)
Chris Baryomusi (Kinkizi East, NRM),
Arinaitwe Rwakajara (Workers, NRM)
Hellen Asamo (PWD Eastern, NRM)
Martin Drito (Madi Okollo, NRM)
Amos Mandera ( Kooki, NRM)
George Ekuma (Bukedea, NRM)
Rose Akol (Bukedea Woman, NRM),
Michael Ayepa (Labwor, NRM),
Remigio Achia (Pian, NRM)
Elizabeth Karungi (Kalungu, NRM),
Hatwib Katoto (Katerera, NRM)
Hanifah Kawooya (Sembabule Woman, NRM)
Twa Twa Mutwalante (Iki Iki,NRM)
Geofrey Ekanya (Tororo,FDC)
Olivia Kabala Kwagala (Iganga, NRM)
Benard Atiku (Ayivu,FDC)
Bakaluba Mukasa (Mukono North, NRM)
Stephen Birahwa (Buliisa, NRM)
James Kakooza (Kabula, NRM)
Kaps Fungaroo (Ubongi, FDC)
Tophace Kaahwa (Hoima Woman, NRM)
Mary Turyahikayo (Rubabo, NRM)
Abdu Katuntu (Bugweri, FDC)
Mathias Mpuuga (Masaka Municipality, Indep)
Joseph Ssewungu (Kalungu West, DP)
Vincent Ssempija (Kalungu East, Indep)
Mariam Nalubega (Butambala Woman, Indep)
Muwanga Kivumbi (Butambala, DP)
Jesca Ababiku (Adjumani Woman, Indep).
US pro-gay delegation leaves empty-handed
http://www.observer.ug/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=24517:us-pro-gay-delegation-leaves-empty-handed&catid=34:news&Itemid=114
Sunday, 31 March 2013 23:18
The delegation from the Robert F. Kennedy Centre
for Justice and Human Rights, led by Kerry Kennedy, held meetings with
President Museveni, the First Lady and Minister for Karamoja, Janet Museveni,
as well as MPs.
The Observer has learnt that in one of the
meetings, the group argued that the controversial draft legislation doesn't
meet the benchmarks of international human rights and contravenes some
international human rights charters that Uganda has ratified.
In a meeting with Janet Museveni at State House, Entebbe, on March 20, the
First Lady made it clear to the delegation that the essence of the bill is not
to persecute homosexuals, noting that Ugandans don't necessarily kill them
although adding that they are not admired either. This same message was
reiterated by President Museveni.The Americans, however, got the harshest
feedback from MPs.
"We already have enough laws that meet
international standards and some of them penalise same-sex marriage and when we
go by the Bible which I glorify, sodomy is punishable. So, we don't want to go
against African culture and at the same time act contrary to God's commandments
because whites want it," Alice Alaso [Serere Woman] told the group.
She added: "You (Westerners) have imposed on
us enough of your bad practices, right from guns, and we shall not allow
homosexuality in Uganda
because the Bible forbids it."
Alaso made her stinging remarks during the stormy
meeting between the delegation and members of Parliament's committee on Human
Rights. The Anti-Homosexuality bill was referred to this committee after its
chairperson, Jovah Kamateeka (Mitooma Woman), asked Speaker Rebecca Kadaga to
let her committee scrutinise it for purposes of adherence to human rights.
Bujenje MP Kabakumba Masiko Labwoni told the gay
rights activists during their interface with the committee that Parliament
would not make a law that doesn't suit Uganda's culture.
"You can't impose on us issues that are
against our culture, and it is prohibited for you to come here and start
promoting homosexuality," said the former minister of Information and
National Guidance.
On her part, People with Disabilities Female MP,
Safia Nalule Juuko, asked the activists: "May I know whether you have seen
anything good about this practice (homosexuality) that you can share with
us?"
In her response, the group's team leader, Kerry
Kennedy, expressed appreciation for the passionate concerns of the lawmakers
and was apologetic to those who could have been hurt by their mission.
"According to what we have heard from almost
all of you members, we must have hurt you. We are very sorry about it. We
didn't expect to meet a group of people because we had wanted to meet a few of
you," she said.
Kamateeka told The Observer shortly after this
closed-door meeting on March 21 that "these people want us to further
scrutinise the bill in order to suit the international standards, and we just
reaffirmed what the president told them that in Uganda, we don't discriminate
against or persecute the gay."
The Observer has been told that the delegation
also privately met Ndorwa West MP David Bahati, the bill's main sponsor, as
well as Bugweri MP Abdu Katuntu.
Speaking about the meeting, Katuntu said: "I
have had a meeting with the delegation in my capacity as shadow Attorney
General. They wanted to know [about some of the thorny] clauses of the bill,
but I told them that the bill is unstoppable."
Asked why he thinks the bill is
"unstoppable", Katuntu said: "I told them it is unstoppable
because it is very popular in the committee, Parliament and the public. So, no one
has the capacity to drop it unless its mover wishes so. But Bahati is not ready
to do it."
On his part, Bahati said: "It is true we met
with a group of human rights activists, and they wanted to get more information
about the bill. I frankly told them that the bill focuses on stopping the
promotion of homosexuality, stopping the funding of homosexuality, stopping the
inducement of children into homosexuality and operationalising the prohibition
of same-sex marriage [as] stipulated in the constitution."
