Yes, Bad for Business.
By the speed these things move,
this is quite fast. The bill out of parliament 21st March, and by 26th
March 2023 a statement from some of the worlds giant corporations. On poor
Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2023?
Anti-gay activists will jump to conspiracy that we kuchus have lobbied …, [thus
proving our gay super-powers.]
“A business group including corporate giants such as Google says it opposes Uganda's anti-LGBTQ legislation, calling it “a concern for global businesses and investors operating or planning to invest” in the East African country….
Though it sounds fantastic to claim super powers, This is more likely business concern, in my opinion.
Here, on Blogspot, I am hosted by Google. [For free of course, I don’t have the wealth anti-gay people accuse me of harbouring. No, it is not a special arrangement. You can also get yourself a blog with Blogger]
I am shouting out that I am gay.
Big deal [not] in most countries. But, in Uganda, with the new bill as law,
that is criminal. I am committing ‘homosexuality’, Ugandan definition. 20 yearsin Ugandan prison.
I am also rather aggressively complaining about the injustice of being penalised for being gay. And pointing out others who are in prison because they are gay in Uganda. AKA, I am ‘promoting’ homosexuality.
Because Google is hosting me here,
Google is also guilty of ‘promoting homosexuality’.
Google should hand my details to the Ugandan authorities, to comply with the
new bill, soon to be law. The penalty would be peanuts to Google. But it also
includes 10 years suspension of business licence. Or permanently
. That is not business as they know it. Not as any multinational knows it, for
that matter.
Google doesn’t have to be in Uganda.
Would LGBTQ employees in those companies be at risk? The Uganda Homosexuals Death law is sweeping in its provisions. These companies think the law would impact them. Their reasoning is, reasonably, with regards to their businesses, not idealistic or ‘moral’. They include;
“undermine companies’ ability to recruit a diverse and talented workforce”
“a provision that would require companies to report those suspected of being LGBTQ would put them “in an impossible situation”
“"Either they violate the law in Uganda or they are going against international standards of corporate responsibility as well as human rights laws of the countries in which they are headquartered,"”
‘Bad for Business’ indeed.
Would any other such corporates
want to come to Uganda?
How many international companies will hesitate, even if the President lays out
red carpets for investors?
At the last election, Facebook got into a tiff with President Museveni and the ruling party. Museveni suspended Facebook, for the crime of being ‘arrogant’. 2 years down that road, META (Facebook) has refused to blink. As recently as December 2022, His Excellencyis quoted saying.
““It has been two years since Facebook was chased out of Uganda. When I checked, boda bodas and taxis were still moving [in absence of Facebook]; even matooke and milk were still coming. I hope Facebook now knows who is in charge of Uganda! When they stop playing games we shall open them,"”
Speak of awkward.
Do they actually mind? 2 years while business is closed? Ahem, Mr President,
think again. They are telling you the Uganda market is miniscule to them.
But, this is just a symptom.
His Excellency is literally crawling around, begging for ‘investors’ to come to
Uganda. But, he doesn’t believe in creating an enabling environment.
The untutored 500 plus [MPs] are even more obtuse and belligerent.
Is Uganda ‘Open for Business’?
Actions speak much louder than words. Facebook is a member of that coalition. The ‘Facebook Uganda’ affair plus the current Anti-Homosexuality Bill, aka Uganda Homosexuals Death bill, show the business door was only slightly open. Liable to be slammed shut any moment!
The corporations are worried. And, it is a justifiable concern. [not ‘intimidation’ nor ‘threats’.]
gug
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