Demonstration

Yesterday was the demonstration. Against homosexuality.

Started from Makerere University. Bombo Road, through the main part of the city. To Parliament.

No. I was not there. Just watched bits and pieces of it on TV.

Makerere is the seat of anti-gay activistim in Uganda. For the moment, I guess. And why is that? Martin Ssempa (PhD)… it is his current, official seat of office. We were recently invited for a discussion about sexual orientation there, and people were enthusiastic. Till someone reminded us of what happened at the Medical School in 2008. A similar discussion was arranged. Gay activists were invited.

It was a farce.

The Quaran and the Bible were the texts of reference. It was no discussion, but a very rowdy town hall. The gay activists ran out. Literally, in fear of their lives.

Can a debate be held in this atmosphere?

Not a debate.

Don’t know how many people were at the demo. I think it was less than 100. Clever camera angles to get a good view of the numbers, but it just didn’t seem to be that many… But I am biased. So, maybe they were more.

And cars, vehicles with postures of every imaginable abuse of us homosexuals- to kind of exhibit the demonstrators anti-stand. Ssempa was interviewed, carrying a banner, waving it and dancing in the street. A demonstration against homosexuality. And he spat.

[What is it with Ssempa and spitting? I have seen the suited gentleman spitting when he talks about homosexuality on talk shows… A personal emphasis on how bad we are???? He spits. Looks comical, but interesting. His mind take on it all]

What was the objective of the demonstration?

Not sure. To show the world that Uganda rejects homosexuality? To put it on the political front seat? To deliver some thousands of signatures to parliament demanding that a new, tougher law against homosexuality is passed by that august house.

A tougher law. That seems to be the anti-gay agenda for 2009. A tougher law.

The current law, criminalization of the sexual act, one can get up to life time imprisonment. It does not criminalize being gay. It does not criminalize working for homosexuals. Those facts irk Nsaba Buturo enough for him to do something about it. Once he said Uganda should outlaw being gay. (Not being homosexual. But gayism…! Being out and proud.)

The anti-gay activists are unhappy that current laws are not strong enough. They are too weak. Too few prosecutions are made. Too little time is spent on this moral problem, which is taking over Uganda. Remember the guys in Mbale? The ones who were arrested over Easter

Well, the political situation didn’t allow what should have been a routine release. They are still in prison. On remand…

 

PS, still playing my usual role of victim. That is what my detractors accuse me of. Will not stop me documenting what is happening.

 

gug

And, here is the Monitor article on the demonstration

Homosexuality threat to Ugandans- activists

MERCY NALUGO

 

Parliament

 

Activists against homosexuality in Uganda stormed parliament on Tuesday protesting against the practice and demanded a probe into the practice in the country.

The activists who were holding banners denouncing the activity were led by the Family Life Network in conjunction with religious leaders.

The groups led by the Executive Director of Family Life Network, Mr Stephen Langa while handing over their petition to the Deputy Speaker,Ms Rebecca Kadaga said the Parliamentary select committee should also assess the extent of the damage homosexuality has caused to children and Ugandans.

“The serious threat that homosexuality poses to the stability and survival of the family and the social fabric of the nation has come to light in the recent past. This threat is real and has the potential to destabilize the country socially, politically and health wise,” Mr Langa said.

The petitioners said that former agents of homosexuality have told them how they use coercion and manipulation to recruit unsuspecting innocent children and students into homosexuality and lesbianism.

“These groups have a clear and long term strategy to influence every sector of society to impose their deviant values on the whole society,” reads the petition in part.

Mr Langa said the homosexuals under the group Sexual Minorities Uganda spend huge sums of money to recruit University students and those in secondary schools into homosexuality. They did not give details.

 

“It has been appalling and disgusting to witness the audacity of homosexual and lesbian groups and activists operating freely in the country with total disregard and disrespect of our law which up to now criminalises homosexuality,” reads the petition. 

The petitioners demanded that the government amends the Constitution to openly prohibit homosexuality, bisexuality, trans sexuality and other related practices.

“Parliament should also put in place measures that would ensure that no organization or person teaches things that would fall in the arena of family and sexuality without the approval of the ministry of Education,’’ she said.

Ms Kadaga said she would allow a motion to be moved on the floor of Parliament next week on the matter.

The petitioners moved around town with posters denouncing homosexuality.

Those that participated in the demonstration included university students, representatives from Church of Uganda, the catholic church, the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council, traders and born again pastors; Martin Ssempa and David Kiganda.

And, From UGPulse, the same story...

Civil society petitions Parliament over homosexuality vice

First published: 20090423 9:33:06 AM EST

 

   Ultimate Media

 

Members of civil society organizations (CSOs) have today petitioned Parliament, calling for a select committee to investigate the impact of homosexuality in Uganda and to pass stern laws to punish people involved in acts of homosexuality.

 

The petition, signed by over 50,000 Ugandans, was presented to the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, by the Executive Director of Family Life Network, Stephen Langa.

Langa, who was accompanied by Pastor Martin Ssempa, Deputy Mufti, Sheikh Abdul Musisi and other civil society members, notes that homosexuals have continued to roam the country freely promoting the vice yet homosexuality is illegal according to the Constitution and the Penal; Code Act.

He says that the homosexuals have penetrated into schools and distributed reading tools that promote the vice, citing United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) which was recently put in the spotlight for distributing a book that promotes homosexuality without approval from the Ministry of Education.

Langa revealed that the CSOs have submitted a protest letter to UNICEF expressing disappointment in their actions and have called upon them to apologize to Ugandans and also retrieve the books that were distributed to schools in about 30 districts.

Deputy Speaker, Rebecca Kadaga, commended the organizations for their solidarity against homosexuality, adding that Parliament will look into current legislation to ensure that they are strengthened to penalize acts of homosexuality.

Kadaga promised to push for the amendment of Article 31 of the Constitution which prohibits homosexual marriages. Langa had earlier noted that the article prohibits gay marriages but not the actions.