Clergy: Jail gays for life, don’t hang them

Homosexuals should not be killed but instead imprisoned for life, religious leaders have suggested.
Making their input in the Anti-homosexuality Bill 2009 yesterday, said clergy said the clause on death as a penalty for homosexuality be scrapped.
“If you kill the people, to whom will the message go? We need to have imprisonment for life if the person is still alive,” said Rev. Canon Aaron Mwesigye, the provincial secretary of the Church of Uganda.
The group, which also comprised Dr Joseph Kakembo of the Seventh Day Adventist church, Dr Joseph Sserwadda, the head of Pentecostal churches, Prof. Peter Matovu, the Orthodox vicar general of the Orthodox and Sheikh Ali Mohammed, representing the mufti, however, made it clear that they support the Bill, because “homosexuality is an evil and is anti-godly”.
The Bill tabled before Parliament on October 15, by Mr David Bahati [Ndorwa East], and Mr Obua Benson [Moroto], seeks to prohibit any form of sexual relations between same sex people.
Parliament yesterday begun public debates on the Bill, conducted by the committee on presidential affairs.

An open Letter to John Holmes

Dear Sir,

Greetings from the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) community of Uganda.

We would like to take this opportunity to bring to your attention the fact that soon this minority group is going to need humanitarian assistance given the speed at which the human rights situation specifically for this vulnerable group is deteriorating in Uganda.

In March 2009, supported by a group called the Family Life Network (FLN) a group of American anti-gay activists came to Uganda and started a campaign of hate against the LGBTI community in Uganda.

This led to an increase in violence, arrests, blackmail and even deaths of members of this community. Yet this is within a situation where this group already is not catered for in as far as health programs are concerned.

It is against this background that a bill has now been tabled in Parliament that not only criminalizes same sex relationships with a maximum penalty of death but also criminalizes anyone associating themselves in anyway with homosexuals. This bill infringes on almost all the basic human rights and freedoms and makes the whole ciovil society in Uganda disabled as well as forcing Uganda to withdraw from a number of international treaties to which it may be a signatory.

Sir in your capacity as UN Under secretary for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, we call upon your office to add its voice and weight behind this community and pronounce yourself against this inhumane bill which will lead to many deaths of this vulnerable group.

We also call upon you to take any action as you may deem necessary to help this vulnerable community.

Yours faithfully,

Dennis

An Open Letter to Dr. Douglas Carew

Vice Chancellor of the Nairobi Evangelical Graduate School of Theology

The Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2009 imposes the death penalty and life imprisonment of homosexuals. An article strongly condemning homosexuals by a leading African evangelical featured in the Africa Bible Commentary which you endorsed sends the wrong message to Ugandan Christians.

Yusufu Turaki's article on "Homosexuality' in Africa Bible Commentary, "a publishing landmark" (John Stott), is hate speech towards homosexuals.



An open letter from John Doner, Latin America Coordinator for Other Sheep:
Dear Dr. Carew:

Do you believe homosexuals should be imprisoned for life? Do you believe homosexuals who repeatedly participate in same-sex activities should be put to death? Do you think persons who support lgbt organizations which simply are seeking their human rights should be put in prison?

I didn't think so, but such legislation is currently being considered in the Ugandan Parliament, the Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2009. And evangelical Christians in Uganda are likely to be turning a deaf ear to such demonic, unChristian legislation, influenced by the Africa Bible Commentary which you endorsed in 2006. That commentary has an article on homosexuality, written by Yusufu Turaki. Turaki's article contains the following anti-homosexual remarks:

(a) Turaki's use of the words "abnormal, unnatural and a perversion" in reference to homosexuals; (b) his uncritical use of the quote that "homosexuals are worse than beasts" tied in with (c) his uncritical statement of the African Anglican church's rejection of Archbishop Tutu's call for tolerance, as well as (d) his one-sided account of African "coercive sexual relationships" as his example of "varied" African same-sex sex; (e) an uncritical censorship of all views of homosexuality that are not in keeping with his views ("Our views of homosexuality should not be derived from human sources but from the Word of God"), and (f) his expressed theological view that to be homosexual is sinful (a view not held by evangelicals in the West).

Turaki's article effectively dismisses the church from its responsibility to speak out against the violence in Africa against lgbt people (lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender). His article could be used by African evangelicals at this time as an argument for the endorsement of the Ugandan bill.

I am aware that, for the most part, evangelicals worldwide view same-sex sex between consenting adults as immoral. Nonetheless, I cannot believe that evangelicals can stand silently by and watch the Parliament of Uganda vote this inhumane bill into law, especially since evangelicals are so vehemently vocal on the issue of homosexuality.

Therefore, I urge you to openly denounce this bill and to state that Yusufu Turaki's inflexible and dogmatic article on "Homosexuality", in the Commentary that you endorsed, should not be misused by any evangelicals in Africa as an argument for the endorsement of the inhumane Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2009.

In Christ's love,

John P. Doner
Latin America Coordinator
Other Sheep - Multicultural Ministries with Sexual Minorities
Mexico City
October 22, 2009

Statement from थे Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights and Constitutional Law

Anti-Homosexuality or Anti-Human Rights Bill?
Hon. Bahati’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill which was tabled in Parliament on October 14, 2009,
and is currently before the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament covers
much more than the title alone proclaims. A much better title for this bill would have been the
‘Anti Civil Society Bill, the ‘Anti Public Health Bill,’ or the ‘Anti-Constitution Bill.’ Perhaps
more simply it should be called the Anti Human Rights Bill. As a matter of fact, this bill
represents one of the most serious attacks to date on the 1995 Constitution and on the key
human rights protections enshrined in the Constitution including:
• Article 20: Fundamental rights and freedoms are inherent and not granted by the State
• Article 21: Right to Equality and Freedom from discrimination
• Article 22: The Right to Life (the death penalty provisions)
• Article 27: The Right to Privacy
• Article 29: Right to freedom of conscience, expression, movement, religion, assembly
and association (this includes freedom of speech, Academic freedom and media
freedom)
• Article 30: Right to Education
• Article 32: Affirmative Action in favour of marginalised groups and
• Article 36 on the Rights of Minorities
Let us think for a moment of who—quite apart from the homosexuals it claims as its target—
this bill puts at risk:
- any parent who does not denounce their lesbian daughter or gay son to the
authorities: Failure to do so s/he will be fined Ush 5,000,000/= or put away for
three years;
- any teacher who does not report a lesbian or gay pupil to the authorities within
24 hours: Failure to do so s/he will be fined Ush 5,000,000/= or put away for
three years in prison;
- any landlord or landlady who happens to give housing to a suspected
homosexual risks seven years of imprisonment;
- any Local Council I – V Chairperson or Executive member who does not
denounce somebody accused of same-sex attraction or activity risks
imprisonment or a heavy fine;
- any medical doctor who seeks to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS through
working with what are known as most at risk populations, risks her or his career;
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- all civil society leaders, whether in a Community Based Organisation, NGO, or
academic institution; if their organisations seek to have a comprehensive position
on sexual and reproductive health, they risk seeing their organisations closed
down;
- any human rights activist who seeks to promote an understanding of the
indivisibility and inalienability of human rights would be judged to be promoting
homosexuals and homosexuality, and be punished accordingly;
- any religious leader who seeks to provide guidance and counselling to people
who are unsure of their sexuality, would be regarded as promoting homosexuality
and punished accordingly;
- any Member of Parliament or other public figure who is sent a pornographic
article, picture or video will become vulnerable to blackmail and witch-hunts;
- any media house that publishes ‘pornographic’ materials risks losing its
certificate of registration and the editor will be liable to seven years in jail;
- any internet café operator who fails to prevent a customer from accessing a
pornographic website, or a dating site, could be accused of ‘participating in the
production, procuring, marketing, broadcasting, disseminating and publishing of
pornographic materials for purposes of promoting homosexuality’; their business
licence could be revoked and they themselves could land in prison.
- any Person alleged to be a homosexual is at risk of LIFE IMPRISONMENT
and, in some circumstances, the DEATH PENALTY
In short, this bill targets everybody, and involves everybody: it cannot be implemented without
making every citizen spy on his or her neighbours. The last time this was done was in the Amin
era, where everyone very quickly became an ‘enemy of the state’. It amounts to a direct invasion
of our homes, and will promote blackmail, false accusations and outright intimidation of certain
members of the population. Do Ugandans really want to mimic the practices of the Khartoum
regime? Have we already forgotten the sex police of Apartheid South Africa, who smashed
their way into people’s bedrooms in an attempt to prevent inter-racial sex?
As Civil Society organisations we condemn all predatory sexual acts (hetero or homosexual)
that violate the rights of vulnerable sections of our society such as minors and people with
disabilities. However, the Bill lumps “aggravated homosexuality” together with sexual acts
between consenting adults in order to whip up sentiments of fear and hatred aimed at isolating
sexual minorities. By so doing, the state fails in its duty to protect all its citizens without
discrimination.
The bill also asserts Extra Territorial jurisdiction. In other words, all of the offences covered by
the bill can be applied to a Ugandan citizen or permanent resident who allegedly commits them
outside the country. Thus homosexuality and/or its ‘promotion’ are added to the very short list
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of offences which fall in the ‘political offences’ category. It joins treason, misprision of treason,
and terrorism as offences subject to extra-territorial jurisdiction. Clearly, this is out of all
proportion in relation to the gravity of the act.
On top of these day-to-day considerations about everybody’s safety and security, let us consider
what this bill will do for civil society organisations in Uganda which seek to have a critical
voice and to engage in issues of global concern. One of the objectives of the bill is to prohibit
the licensing of organizations which allegedly ‘promote homosexuality.’ Thus, for example,
any organisation which talked about anal sex as part of a campaign of HIV prevention can be
affected. Had this bill been in place earlier this year, no Ugandan could have participated in the
World AIDS meeting held in Mexico to discuss HIV prevention.
And what about our standing in the eyes of the world? The Bill calls for Uganda to nullify any
international treaties, protocols, declarations and conventions which are believed to be
‘contradictory to the spirit and provisions’ of the bill. In reality, this would involve Uganda
withdrawing from:
• The Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
• The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and its protocols;
• The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights;
• The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women;
• The Convention on the Rights of the Child, and
• The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights
We note that Uganda is current Chair of the UN Security Council which operates with the UN
Charter and UDHR as guiding principles. It is also current Chair of the Commonwealth and a
signatory to the African Union’s Constitutive Act which has as its premise the promotion and
respect of human rights. In 2009 and 2010 it is hosting AU Summits. What will happen to
Uganda’s hard-won role on the global stage if it nullifies its international and regional human
rights commitments? Uganda cannot wish away core human rights principles of dignity,
equality and non-discrimination, and all Ugandans will pay a heavy price if this bill is enacted.
We will have bargained away our hard-earned rights and freedoms as well as our right to
challenge the State and hold it accountable for the protection of these rights.
In sum, the Bahati Bill is profoundly unconstitutional. It is a major stumbling block to the
development of a vibrant human rights movement in Uganda, and a serious threat to Uganda’s
developing democratic status. If passed, this law would not only prove difficult to implement, it
would also consume resources and attention which would be better directed at more pressing
issues of human rights abuse, corruption, electoral reform, domestic relations and freedom of the
press.
Regardless of our personal moral beliefs and values, we the undersigned organisations are
standing up in defence of Democracy, our Constitution and its enshrined principles of human
dignity, equality, freedom and justice for all.
Kampala, 23 October 2009
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• African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF)
• Akina Mama wa Afrika (AMwA)
• Advocates for Public International Law in Uganda (APILU)
• Center for Land Economy and Rights of Women (CLEAR-Uganda)
• Centre for Women in Governance (CEWIGO)
• Development Network of Indigenous Voluntary Associations (DENIVA)
• East & Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project
• Uganda Association of Women Lawyers (FIDA-U)
• Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE)
• Human Rights Awareness & Promotion Forum
• Human Rights & Peace Centre (HURIPEC), Faculty of Law, Makerere University
• Integrity Uganda
• International Refugee Rights Initiative
• Mentoring and Empowerment Programme for Young Women (MEMPROW)
• MIFUMI Project
• National Association of Women’s Organisations in Uganda (NAWOU)
• National Coalition of Women Living with HIV/AIDS (NACWOLA)
• Refugee Law Project (RLP), Faculty of Law, Makerere University
• National Guidance & Empowerment Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (NGEN+)
• Spectrum Uganda
• Uganda Feminist Forum
• Women’s Organisation & Network for Human Rights Advocacy (WONETHA)
For further information please contact the coalition at kalendenator@gmail.com

UGANDAN NGOs SET TO RESPOND TO ANTI-HOMOSEXUALITY BILL

Mongezi Mhlongo (BTM Senior Reporter)

UGANDA- 23 October 2009: Following the tabling of the Anti-Homosexual Bill in the Ugandan parliament, a new Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights and Constitutional Law has been formed, set to respond to the draconian bill which, according to the coalition undermines basic human rights and the Constitution of Uganda.

Comprising of more than 25 civil society organisations working in various sectors in Uganda, the coalition has taken a staunch opposition to the proposed Anti-Homosexuality bill currently before the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee.

Explaining reasons why the Coalition was formed, Frank Mugisha, Chairperson, Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG) said, to head the campaign opposing the bill successfully, voices from various sectors are needed for the campaign to be a success.

“In the past we would take up campaigns on our own and we would be accused of being immoral amongst other things, by actually having other human rights defenders, lawyers etc, the campaign will be much stronger and it will go a long way.”

In a statement issued today, members of the newly formed Coalition highlighted that the Anti-Homosexuality Bill does not only target homosexuals but every Uganda citizen, dubbing it an Anti-Human Rights Bill.

The statement further pointed out that the bill contradicts eight fundamental human rights protections afforded to Ugandans and enshrined in the Constitution of Uganda.

Namely, Fundamental rights and freedoms are inherent and not granted by State (Article 20), Right to Equality and Freedom from discrimination (Article 21), The Right to Life –the death penalty provisions (Article 22), The rights to Privacy (Article 27), Right to freedom of conscience, expression, movement, religion, assembly and association-including freedom of speech, Academic freedom and media freedom (Article 29), Right to Education (Article 30), Affirmative Action in favor of marginalized groups (Article 32), Right of Minorities (Article 36).

Furthermore, “If passed this law would not only prove difficult to implement, it would also consume resources and attention which would be better directed at more pressing issues of human rights abuse, corruption, electoral reform, domestic relations and freedoms of the press”, cautioned the statement.

Mugisha lauded that the member’s civil society organisation adding that they have played a vital role in the campaign.

“They have been helpful in spreading the word in their networks and organisations sensitizing them about LGBTI issues and the Anti –Homosexual bill.”

Member organisations of the coalition are the following, African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF), Akina Mama wa Afrika (AMwA), Advocates for Public International Law in Uganda (APILU), Center for Land Economy and Rights of Women (CLEAR-Uganda), Centre for Women in Governance (CEWIGO), Development Network of Indigenous Voluntary Associations (DENIVA),East & Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project, Uganda Association of Women Lawyers (FIDA-U), Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE), Human Rights Awareness & Promotion Forum, Human Rights & Peace Centre (HURIPEC), Faculty of Law, Makerere University, Integrity Uganda, International Refugee Rights Initiative, Mentoring and Empowerment Programme for Young Women (MEMPROW), MIFUMI Project, National Association of Women’s Organisations in Uganda (NAWOU), National Coalition of Women Living with HIV/AIDS (NACWOLA), Refugee Law Project (RLP), Faculty of Law, Makerere University, National Guidance & Empowerment Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (NGEN+), Spectrum Uganda, Uganda Feminist Forum, Women’s Organisation & Network for Human Rights Advocacy (WONETHA)

Other Sheep press statement on Ugandan anti-gay bill

Tell Rick Warren, John Stott and Douglas Carew to tell the Association of Evangelicals in Africa (AEA) to Denounce the Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2009

BRONX, NEW YORK, USA. October 19, 2009
In an Other Sheep e-newsletter, Rev Stephen Parelli, Executive Director of Other Sheep, called upon evangelicals worldwide to tell the Association of Evangelicals in Africa (AEA) to denounce the Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2009.

"Uganda is largely evangelical," Parelli said. "Uganda's hateful stance against homosexuals is very Bible based, so they think. Therefore, evangelicals worldwide cannot look on and watch the Parliament of Uganda enact laws against homosexuals that are, as this bill is, criminal, without speaking out. The evangelicals of Africa and from outside of Africa must address their fellow Christians of Uganda and tell them they must, in the name of God, stop this inhumane bill from becoming law."

The newsletter gives a sample letter to use and the contact information of the AEA Executive Board members and AEA Ethics, Peace and Justice Commission.

In addition, Rev. Parelli called upon Pastor Rick Warren of the United States, John Stott of England, and Douglas Carew of Kenya, all recognized evangelical leaders, to denounce the bill. "Warren, Stott and Carew," Parelli said, "have endorsed the 2006 widely acclaimed Africa Bible Commentary in which Nigerian religious leader Yusufu Turaki's featured Homosexuality article effectively dismisses the church from its responsibility to speak out against the violence in Africa against LGBT people (lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender). Turaki's article could be used by African evangelicals at this time as an argument for the endorsement of the Ugandan bill." The Other Sheep newsletter provides contact information and a sample letter to Warren, Stott and Carew urging them to speak out against the bill.


Other Sheep is a multi-cultural ecumenical Christian organization that works worldwide for the full inclusion of LGBT people of faith within their respective faith traditions.

Sexual Minorities Uganda Condemn the tabled anti-homosexuality bill

As a network of human rights activists, working in the areas of sexual
rights as well as other human rights issues, we write to urge you to
oppose a repressive bill which was tabled in Parliament of Uganda on
14th October 2009. This bill is a blow to the steady progress of democracy
in Uganda. It proposes criminalization of advocacy and support for the
rights of homosexual Ugandans. It also prohibits any public discussion or
expression of gay and lesbian lives and any organizing around sexual
orientation. In doing so, it violates the basic rights to freedom of
expression, conscience, association, and assembly, as well as
internationally recognized protections against discrimination. The
proposed bill intention is to divide and discriminate against the Ugandan
homosexual population, and exclude them from participation in public life,
which goes against the inclusive spirit necessary for our economic as well
as political development. Its spirit is profoundly undemocratic and
un-African.

Over the recent months increased campaigns of violence have gone
uncontrolled. The violence directed at Homosexual Ugandans has resulted in
the unwarranted arrests of many people; there are eight ongoing cases in
various courts all over Uganda of which four accused persons are unable to
meet the harsh bail conditions set against them. These acts of violence
have now resulted in the deaths of several homosexual people, such as
Brian Pande at Mbale Hospital as he awaited trial. This bill aggravates
stigma and hatred; and renders all promised protections enshrined in the
constitution for all Ugandan citizens void.

Religious leaders and policy makers have also exhibited very hostile
attitudes towards otherwise peace keeping homosexual Ugandans by
publicizing slanderous and hateful messages in the media, creating serious
security concerns for the lives of SMUG network members
Uganda has repeatedly pledged to defend these fundamental freedoms in the
Constitution; it has also signed treaties binding it to respect
international human rights law and standards, including the African
Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. As part of the community of nations
forming sexual minorities we urge Ugandan parliamentarians and government
to continue to respect these principles and reject this bill, which
establishes a new and totally undemocratic level of policing private life.
SMUG condemns both of these positions as undemocratic and unacceptable.

These positions will further set a dangerous precedent and send a signal
that any Ugandan’s privacy is unguaranteed -that all of our civil society
could be put under attack. If this bill is passed into law, it will
clearly endanger the work of all human rights defenders and members of
civil society in Uganda.

This proposed legislation violates Uganda’s most basic obligations to the
rights, and well-being, of its people. By signing international treaties
and entering the international community, the Ugandan government has
undertaken the obligation to promote and protect the human rights of its
population, without discrimination on any grounds. As the Sexual
Minorities in Uganda, we urge you to act on that obligation, and to
further the growth of our democracy. Kindly vote against this bill.

ISSUED BY
Sexual Minorities Uganda - SMUG
Sexual Minorities Uganda - SMUG is a network of lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender and intersex people’s organizations based in Uganda.