Uganda and gay war: The west lack honour

Lazarus Sauti

Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni recently signed an anti-gay bill and according to Jackee Budesta Batanda, an independent journalist and author living in Kampala, Uganda, many Ugandans see the bill as preserving African culture.

In an article “Uganda’s anti-gay bill outs the country as anti-human rights”, Batanda wrote: “Museveni’s decision was greeted with celebrations across Uganda, where many people believed he was (also) snubbing the west.

“Attention was given to the United States of America president Barack Obama’s call on the Ugandan leader not to sign the bill, which would infringe on the human rights of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community in Uganda, and with threats to reconsider America’s relationship with Uganda. However, in full glare of the world media Museveni signed the bill – the first time he has done so in the public eye.

“Consensus among many Ugandans was that the president was helping to preserve African culture, a key tenet supporters of the bill have argued all along.”

In a statement, President Museveni further said: “I... encourage the US government to help us by working with our scientists to study whether, indeed, there are people who are born homosexual. When that is proved, we can review this legislation.”

After signing the bill, some western governments said they would be withdrawing aid to Uganda and this move shows the west’s hypocrisy and lack of honour.

President Barack Obama personally appealed to the Ugandan strongman to discard the anti-gay law and described it as “more than an affront, and a danger to Uganda’s gay community. It will be a step backwards for all Ugandans.”

He warned it could ‘complicate’ Washington’s relations with Uganda, which receives a reported $400m (£240m) in annual aid from the US.

 

Daniel Bekele, Africa Director, Human Rights Watch, New York, USA says: “President Museveni signing the anti-gay law is yet another blow to fundamental human rights in Uganda as the new law affects not only the already marginalised LGBT people but all Ugandans.

“Ugandan rights groups will continue to challenge the constitutionality of the law. Uganda’s international development partners need to urgently engage it in discussion on implementation of the law and its far reaching implications, including on delivery of basic health services to at risk populations.”

The World Bank also postponed loans in excess of $90m to the Ugandan government aimed at boosting health services.

Not to be outsmarted, Facebook, in a statement distanced itself from what it terms as a very harsh and barbaric climate and threatened to block its Facebook and Whatsapp services in Uganda.

The statement from Facebook reads: “When we launched Facebook, we thought it as a platform to advance people’s rights and liberties of self expression in all form. We were equally shocked to learn that Uganda as a country had gone ahead to sign the Anti Homosexuality bill into a law.

“Facebook is currently reviewing its engagement to Uganda, as we seek to come up with a voice to express our dissatisfaction. And of course, suspending our operations in Uganda is one of the options we are considering. In the event that we suspend operations in Uganda, our platforms of Instagram, Facebook and Whatsapp will be off for a time we shall deem necessary.

“We strongly condemn the act of the Ugandan Government to overstep the rights of a minority. All humans are created equal and deserve a right to freedom and happiness.”

These statements show that the West and her allies still behave like big brothers and believe they have a say in Africa and her internal affairs.

Truth be told, in most African societies, homosexual acts are illegal. “Homosexuality is just a bad behaviour that should not be allowed in our society,” MP David Bahati, one of the lawmakers that championed the new legislation reportedly told the media.

To affirm that Africa will never be a colony again, President Robert Mugabe supported Museveni’s fight against homosexuality as he believes that his Ugandan counterpart is fighting a just fight.

President Mugabe also dismissed the notion peddled by countries such as the United States that “gay rights” are human rights.

He highlighted that the recognition of homosexuality was in itself a blatant disregard of the God-given institution of marriage between a man and a woman.

“Threats by the United States to cut aid to Uganda to protest the newly-promulgated law is a clear sign that the West lacked honour.”

This calls for all African leaders to stand together and fight western imperialism. Africa should not be viewed as a little brother but an equal partner in all global issues.