Friday, October 30, 2009

**A CALL TO ACTION**



DENOUNCE THE ANTI-HOMOSEXUALITY BILL IN THE PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA. PROTEST AT THE UGANDA DIPLOMATIC MISSION IN YOUR COUNTRY

Dear Partners, Allies and Friends,

As you already know, the "Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2009." was recently tabled before the Parliament of Uganda. The Bill's provisions are draconian and among them are;

• Any person alleged to be homosexual would be at risk of life imprisonment or in some circumstances the death penalty;

• Any parent who does not denounce their lesbian daughter or gay son to the authorities would face fines of $ 2,650.00 or three years in prison;

• Any teacher who does not report a lesbian or gay pupil to the authorities within 24 hours would face the same penalties;

• And any landlord or landlady who happens to give housing to a suspected homosexual would risk 7 years of imprisonment.

• Similarly, the Bill threatens to punish or ruin the reputation of anyone who works with the gay or lesbian population, such as medical doctors working on HIV/AIDS, civil society leaders active in the fields of sexual
and reproductive health, hence further undermining public health efforts
to combat the spread of HIV;

• All of the offences covered by the Bill as drafted can be applied to a Ugandan citizen who allegedly commits them - even outside Uganda!

The existing law has already been employed in an arbitrary way, and the Bill will just exacerbate that effect. There is a continued increase in campaigns of violence and unwarranted arrests of homosexuals. There are
eight ongoing cases in various courts. Four accused persons are unable to meet the harsh bail conditions set against them. As a result, Brian Pande died in Mbale Hospital on 13th September, 2009 as he awaited trial.

Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG) calls upon you our partner, ally and/or friend to action. Denounce this bill through a protest at a Ugandan Diplomatic Mission in your country on November 9th 2009, where applicable.
Urge the Government of Uganda to reject this Bill in its entirety.

For your reference, please find attached two press statements released by SMUG and Ugandan Civil Society as well as a copy of the bill that was tabled in parliament.

Thank you for standing in solidarity with the Uganda LGBTI community.


For more information, please contact:

Frank Mugisha
Email:fmugisha@sexualminoritiesuganda.org
Telephone: + 256 772 616 062

Valetine Kalende
Email: vkalende@faruganda.org
Telephone: +256 752 324 249

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

YES WE WILL!

Leonard said...

YES WE WILL!

Anonymous said...

Yes I will!

Unknown said...

Has Gay Uganda asked HRW, IGLHRC and Amnesty if they will leave their office suites in NYC on November 9 and hit the streets for gay people in your country?

The NGOs in NYC, where Uganda has a mission to the UN, would set a great example, and send a strong message, if they would hold a simple press conference at the mission located there.

The situation in Uganda is dire and I want my advocates at HRW, IGLHRC and Amnesty, to start getting out of their offices more often in NYC and hold easy, non-violent public actions.

A news conference, which requires only a few talking heads, is something the NGOs should be able to easily organize. Our paid advocates need to get into the streets.

I really hope your org has directly asked the named NGOs to be visible on November 9.

Finally, could you all post info from any cities holding actions on November 9?

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