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.
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.
