Why do they Hate?

Why do they hate us so?

Sometimes, when I am really down and depressed, I start asking myself why people hate us.

Us. Generic, us gays. Why are there all the different kinds of hate? Why?

Uh, I know. Xenophobia. Tribal prejudices are very common in Uganda, and most of our African countries.

Many of the haters swear that they don't hate. Pastors Male and Ssempa say they love homosexuals. Yes, I would do without their overwhelming love, hate.

Ssempa these days doesnt want to talk to the media. But, he speaks through surrogates (how he must hate that!). Male, well, that elderly gentleman is not as charismatic as Ssempa is, but, he also shouts and rants as much as any other. Remember, in the Pastor Wars in Uganda, he was hand and glove with Ssempa in the allegations about Pastor Kayanja.

Poor guys. Recently, I passed by Miracle Center Cathedral. Kayanja is planning a huge city wide crusade. And, he has a huge bill board, rivalling those of politicians campaigning for the presidency.

Kayanja literally crushed his rivals, those who wanted to tarnish his name that he is a homosexual. I don't know whether he is.... damn, I have no wish one way or the other. Father Musaala's career was destroyed by the allegations, far as I see. Kayanja faced them, dragged them to court. And, Ssempa and Male ended with mud on their mugs. The power of money!

And, Pastor Kayanja is going as strong as ever.

Maybe the lesson there is that hate and jealousy, especially like that of Male and Ssempa does not pay. Or, they are stupid?

Why do they hate us so?

Male put his signature to this epistle. A long letter, convoluted. We are evil. Because we are homosexuals. Somehow, somewhere in that is well hidden the love. Ssempa has apparently learnt the lesson not to put his signature to epistles like that these days. But, guess who is behind it all...!

Here, Male explains everything further.

The language of love, hate- unrestrained. Foreign media 'promoting homosexuality' in Uganda.

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And now foreign media and homosexuals are here to advance their cause, blackmailing our government, misinforming the world about the situation on the ground."

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According to him "Pr Martin Ssempa and others in our team have on many occasions debated with homosexuals at public forums, even before the media and in the presence of the Police, intelligence and other agencies. None of the homos (homosexuals, ed) has ever been harassed. Where on earth do they get such brutalization? I need to assure the world as follows:

"No homosexual has been persecuted. Our campaign focuses on criminals who target little children below the 18 year age of consent, especially children in schools. For those who have chosen to take that sexual route, we call upon to quit.

"No homosexual has been raped, abused or killed by mobs because of hatred. In fact, many relatives of homosexuals have bleeding hearts that their loved ones are indulging. We have parents of homosexuals who have been mistreated by homosexuals.

"On the contrary, we have homosexuals using state machinery to harass their victims and the good Samaritans. This has happened in the Pr Kitaka, Pr Kiwewesi, Pr Kayanja and other homo cases." Male continues his argument saying that where victims have come up to report, they have been persecuted, framed and arrested, or their offenders have been alerted to take pre-emptive action, or even to flee

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You see? We are liars and hypocrites. They are the saints that speak their hearts out.

Now, I dearly love this contrasting comment from Giles Muhame of the Rolling pebble. This is what he says. 

"I hope basic justice will be done," he told Reuters. "Some people are even calling for public hanging and some others even want to see homosexuals buried alive."

Basic Justice indeed!. At least Giles Muhame is truthful.

I mean, I swear to the veracity of this.

During the debates on the Anti-Homosexuality bill, there was one which was televised. Agenda Uganda or something on NTV, one of the local stations. On the panel on one side was Pastor Solomon Male. On the other side was Val Kalende.

And, one of the guys in the audience, very categorically stated that the bill was not going far enough with hanging homosexuals. What he wanted was homosexuals like Val being dragged before a public firing squad, like used to happen in the days of Idi Amin.

I listened to that, sick at heart. Val was there. I don't know how she felt, have never asked her. I felt sick, disgusted. Because, to a Ugandan, those sick days are an ulcer that cannot be healed.

But, the guy said that. I didnt see the man of God Male stand up to contend that. What did Male say? Oh, in anger, at another segment, he actually supported the hanging.....

Why do they hate us so?

Oh well, they hate. And hating, they are satisfied.

It doesnt help me to dwell on that. They hate. Shrug. And, me telling them that they hate is not going to change them an iota. They hate because they hate. They will get the words to fill in the void of their 'love', but, they will continue to hate.

Why should I try to understand them? A knife driven into my chest will kill me, whether the motivation of the killer is powered by ignorance. It is ignorant hate.

gug

Sunday Afternoon.... Sunday Morning

Sunday morning.

Am relaxed in the seating room sofa. Typing away.

Uh, work, work, work. Have a deadline to beat, and that is so yesterday. So, my Sunday, beautiful as it is, has to be spent in a computer, trying to finish what I should be doing.

Have to laugh at my friend. When I am concentrating at work, he can talk over my head, poke, slap, step on me. And I am in another universe, barely acknowledging that he is around. Anyway, he got tired of that, put the food on the sigiri [and asked me to mind it! Crazy man, of course it will be burnt. Doesnt the man learn anything!]

Anyway, he has gone to tend his beard. I did hear that, at least.

Last barb was that this 'activism' earns me no money...! Hey, hit the jackpot. But, I think it was because I had lost my concentration.

No. It doesnt earn me money. Well, Buturo may think what he wants. I have never got the 20 million USD which he promised was supposed to be mine. Yeah, these crazy people. They want to kill us, and then think that the only motivation we have is foreign monies. They are really lacking in common sense. What of the threat to our very lives? Do we count as stupid simply because we are homosexuals?

Heard a bit of news. Snippet. There may be some movement on the Bahati, Anti-Homosexuality Bill. That monstrosity is not dead. Not as yet. And, Bahati believes it will become law.

I don't know how true that is. I can only hope that it doesn't.

And, the Rolling stone, that rug has again published. Shift of focus. Before, they accused us of many nasty things, like 'recruiting' children, and other nasties. And, of course published our photos, asking that we be hanged.

After the court injunction stopping them from doing that, they are accusing us of masterminding the terrorist attacks that had more than 80 Ugandans killed on the day of the football world cup final. And of trying to assassinate the President of Uganda. Silly thing, conspiracy theories.

Incredible. Stupid. Fallacy.

Why are gay people such a threat to some people? Why do they want to stoop to the point of telling naked lies to justify having us killed?

I am ashamed to admit that these are my country people. But, they are.

Now, the importance of this new campaign strategy is funny. We are too benign to be a point of interest for the security forces of the country. Hey, I bet that I have been investigated, and am thought a benign crazed homosexual, who earns his keep in the country, and is too un-interested in politics to be a threat to them. Of course the lack of interest on my part is strategy...!

But, the likes of Giles Muhame are frustrated that the security forces are not interested in us. In his view we are terrorists. No. This is not an exaggeration. He has said so in interviews on BBC (I do have a clip somewhere) and on CNN. He believes we are worse than terrorists.

So, he goes ahead and accuses us, with not a hint of evidence, of masterminding the bombings. Bombings whose memory is still a raw wound in the minds of most Ugandans.

Yeah. You may laugh.

But, remember that Giles Muhame, and the guys who are behind him, (who I believe are Ssempa and clique), know the country, the politics.

I can, and will laugh off that accusation.

But, I am more worried of a knock on our door in the middle of the night. And, disappearance into a government 'safe house' for some non-gentle questioning. Melodramatic?

I surely hope that I am.

I have to go check the sigiri. The damned charcoal is very good at burning up everything...., uncontrolled fire you know,.. one of the reasons I always burn the food while minding it...! Hey, we all have different gifts, don't we! Mine is definitely not the kitchen.

Gug

PS. [I was lucky, this time. Just in time... whew!]

PPS. [When he came back, I found there was something else I had done wrong. Why does one have to cook to eat?]

That Interview!

Recurrent theme in questions to me.

while watching CNN this morning i saw the back story coverage of the rolling stone outing. they interviewed you anonymously but that was a silly move coz anybody who knows you can tell that its you and they did show your lower face.

The CNN interview. It was supposed to be anonymous. Unfortunately, it was not as anonymous as I wanted. No, I was not ready, just yet, for my mug to be associated with this blog..... !

But, (touch wood), done is done. Yes, I have learnt to take life as it is thrown at me. I am gay, a Ugandan, in Uganda. Sometimes, many times I affirm that. It is a reminder to myself that I have gone through the fire, and I am still alive. I have come out kicking, alive to write another word. And, since that is still happening, I will not rail at life's unfairness.

Another thing which I am considering a lot is the fact that I am fairly out. Very out, relative to most Ugandans. That is why I kind of tend to feature in all the 'outings' (seems my celebrity status in Uganda's rugs doesnt wear off). Result of that is the fact that, most of my significant others do know that I am gay. Do know my partner. And, those who have not rejected me, they are still with me.

[These days, seems as if I am more amazed at who knows, rather than who doesn't. Like a colleague at work who discreetly made me to understand that she knew I was gay. Was kind of funny... I was just too surprised to have a more confortable discussion after the revelation!]

But, that underscores the fact that, in my immediate environment, people who matter to me know that I am gay. And, they are not expressing overt hostility. [If they do, I hope I can shrug it off]

Of course, that is no protection from anonymous violence. But, what is?

Yes, it can, and does rile some people. Including, my elder brother, who sent me an e-mail that simply had to be answered. My revelation that I am gay, the fact that I am not shy about it, the fact that I continue to talk about it in forums that are open and not disguising me... Come to think of it, he must have watched the interview and recognised me.

What am I trying to say?

That the interview I did was not anonymous enough. That, even if I am gay in Uganda, and gayuganda, I am trying to rationalise away any possible negative effects, including outing myself and showing major enemies who I am.

I am trying to say that it matters. But, it is a waterfall in the course of the river of life which I had to get to. I hoped to get there later, it has happened sooner.

To the likes of Maazi who I met on another blog and gave me this advice-

Please do not flatter yourself. Enjoy the limelight while it lasts. It is good you are playing fiddle to your western fans. In the future, you will certainly need their help to relocate overseas when the sodomy laws are strengthened to take care of gay militancy.

Be assured that, my life is on the line, I know it, and am angry enough to put it on line. You may think that chasing me out of my country is your solution. Or, you may cheer on the mobs with the hangman's noose.

Well, I am saying, it is worth my life. Being what I am. It is worth it. I take enough pride in being who I am, and what I am, not to be shut up.

I am gay. I am a Ugandan. I am an African. And, you will not change any of those, my identities.

Enough said.

gug

Hang Them!

You know about the 'Rolling Stone' rug which published names of gay Ugandans?

Well, the Media council told them to stop publishing. Because they had apparently not satisfied the necessities of registration.

When I think of them, I get in turns angry and sad. Angry because, these are my fellow countrymates. Sad, because it was such a stupid thing to do, so dastardly cruel that I wonder how they got the guts to do it.

Hang them.

The message was clear. Unequivocal.

On the Throckmorton blog, I have been debating a few others of my country mates. Ugandans.... errr, I am telling them to stop thinking that they speak for all Ugandans when they piously point out that they would like us killed.
They are very brave, these guys. [Err, am sorry to say, but ignorance and stupidity put on a pedestal makes me cringe....! I feel ashamed. Damn, but, these guys are Ugandans!!!!!]

Here is what a guy who signs himself Maazi has written. No, he is not one of my less privileged countrymen. He studied, far. Went to Britain, and has trooped over to the US. For that matter, he considers himself sufficiently grounded in matters worldly.

that is why a new law is in the works to sharpen the penal code that deals with your behaviour which is totally unacceptable to most Ugandans of all ethnic groups, religions, gender and socio-economic class. It also explains why there is already a pre-emptive strike on the issue of “same-sex marriage” through the 2005 constitutional ban. What is missing is legal restriction on gay propaganda in schools and gay advocacy within the public sphere. You know as well as I do that it is only a matter of time before the anti-gay penal code is properly consolidated.

Elegant, aint it?

Notice the language of education... sharpen the penal code, pre-emptive strike, etc, etc....

The hate bubbles up, spills over, coalesces into form. Bet you he is literally forming at the mouth as he contemplates me, a Ugandan who just happens to be gay...

Gosh, such love, such embrace of hate!

Remember Buturo? Minister of Ethics and Integrity the born again Pentecostal Nsaba Buturo. Homosexuals should forget about human rights.
Yeah, barely human. Why should the bill of rights protect us?????!!! Not against this kind of righteous anger.

Anyway, that is enough crowing.

They hate me. But, hate is something that I have grown up with, and known. The pitiful 'rolling stone' guys who justify their publication like this

The paper's managing editor, Giles Muhame, said the article was "in the public interest."

"We felt there was need for society to know that such characters exist amongst them. Some of them recruit young children into homosexuality, which is bad and need to be exposed," he said. "They take advantage of poverty to recruit Ugandans. In brief we did so because homosexuality is illegal, unacceptable and insults our traditional lifestyle.'

Ok....

So, anger, anger, anger....

No. Just have to channel it into better material. Make sure that the Rolling stone people fail to do what they want to do. Because, bottom line, I am a Ugandan.

Yes, my name did appear in the stupid rug. And, that was more provocation.... Someone told me that they wanted to 'capitalise' on our celebrity status. Got a huge laugh from me.

'Course they did.

'Course they did. And, they will try to do it again. Shall we take it lying down?


gug

Safety is Relative

I am feeling good. Quite good... like life is good, you know.

But, I have to spare a thought to safety. You know the pseudo 'Rolling Stone' rug expose of Ugandan gay people, well, happen to have been one of them. The alleged homosexuals. The ones who are supposed to be 'hanged' for planning to recruit 1million Ugandan school children into homosexuality.

Ridiculous? Of course.

On the plus side, the rug is a new one, with small circulation. And, the 'news' is so stupid and a falsification of facts that very few credible adults would put any understanding to it. And, one other plus was that it is in English. Didnt know that I would say that. Means that the people who read it are the ones are more likely to rubbish it.

Unfortunately, Ugandans are very credulous. Most are.

So, my partner comes across a lady after he had picked a copy of the rug. And, the person peruses it, and starts railing at homos for 'recruiting'. Because they are 'targeting' her children. These days my partner is not the kind to keep silent when the subject comes up. He told the lady that her children would have to have made their choices. Left her with obvious questions.

So, they believe the shit. They do.

Sigh, homophobia is always fueled by ignorance. Deep seated ignorance. Its the petrol, the gas behind the flames. And, when there are people like Ssempa who are very willing to fan ignorance with false information, that is the recipe for disaster.

So, am I safe?

Relative. Safety is relative.

We, as in me and my partner, have created a kind of 'safe space'. We know the 'village' knows. And, well, since we are challenging their ignorance with our very being, that may cause some to start thinking.

But, recently, I looked on as one neighbour, a parent refused point blank when I requested to do a small favor for her son. Long story. And, I did ask her permission, and she was like she would rather that her child was in pain than that I do something about it, which would include touching the child. That is the mindset. Gayness is a contagion...!

Would the lady neighbour hang me, as the Rolling stone demands? I don't know. I hope not.

So, am I safe? Are we safe?

We wake in the morning. We go to work, just like everyone else. We suffer the dust, sun, rain and floods, just like everyone else. Hopefully we are enough of human beings to be spared lynching..

Yesterday, had a phone call. One of the people whose photos was in the papers was afraid to get out of home. Transgender, cross dressing, appearance in the papers exposed the sexual identity. And suddenly, home was no longer safe for the person. The neighbourhood was no longer safe for the person. Because they are part of those 'homos' who are bent on recruiting youths.

Jeers, finger pointing, open threats. Enough to make one wonder whether some one may not just set the home on fire.

So, are we safe?

Safety is relative. And, I and my partner are gay in a country where we are considered demon possessed sell-outs. No, I love this little nation state of ours. Wont exchange it for any other. Not voluntarily, and even then, I would make anyone forcing me to pay. I guess we are as safe as we can be.

gug

Hang Them!

Noticed the new rug on Kampala streets?

No. Truly, I don't want to advertise it. What is interesting is that a paper comes out with a frank hate message. There is a group of people. (Yeah, I happen to be one of them...). These people are pariah's in our Ugandan society. So, this brand new tabloid, for its very first issue, has the headlines...' 100 Pictures of Uganda's Top Homos Leak'. They leaked from Facebook profile pics, by the way.

And, a quote, presumably from inside the pages, 'We shall recruit 1,000,000 innocent kids by2012- Homos.' and 'Parents Now face Heart breaks as Homos Raid Schools'

The sentiments are shared inside the rug. And, the candidly expressed opinion, on the front page, and inside over the article, 'Hang Them'

This is Uganda today. We, because we are suspected of being gay, someone finds it his god given moral imperative, to publish a mass circulation paper (or what they hope to be one...), publish photos of us, and declare that they are our photos, and as homos, we should be, HANGED.

Candid, indeed. Candid.

So, we should be hanged. And, a paper in Uganda does publish that kind of thing? Oh yeah. Homos are fair prey. Kill them off. Every one knows that that is a very fair thing to do. Isnt it? After all, we can take it for granted that the allegations of 'massive homo recruitment in schools' are true.

How gullible are Ugandans?

Well, I am afraid we are extremely gullible. Sure, kill off and hang the homosexuals. That will solve all the problems of our young nation. Soon, we shall be celebrating our 47^th Independence anniversary. And, why not gift the country with a homo free populace?

Yeah, I promised myself to be less 'bitter'.... But, it is kind of mind blowing. And, I didnt promise not to see as clearly as I should.

Anyway, the finger to the haters. Whether they wear collars or not.

Just saluting the guy who won the Nobel Prize for Medicine. The in-vitro fertilisation man. I hear that the Vatican complained bitterly. Me, I applaud the Nobel Committee. They do know no favourites. And, since hate is something that ideologues harbour with the faith of their convictions, I applaud when they are poked in the eye.

Why in-vitro fertilisation? Because I am gay. And, those are some of the innovations in our world which have made our lives that much more human. Not fully in Uganda, as yet. But, for all of us who can gain from them. And, the future is bright. It is ours.

gug

Gay rights. Gay equality

Sadly, people are still killed, judicially killed, in the name of god, for being gay.

It may happen in Iran. In Uganda, they wanted it to be qualified with 'aggravated homosexulity. But, it is still the same thing. Death, for being gay.

Iran: Homosexual young man sentenced to death

Monday, July 05, 2010 by Spero News

An Iranian youth in Tabriz has been sentenced to death by hanging for the charge of having homosexual relations.

Mohammad Mostafai, attorney for the accused announced that three other people accused in the case were acquitted of the same crime.

According to Iranian law, homosexual relations are against the law and given the death penalty.

Mohammad Mostafai maintained that Hamid Taghi, Ebrahim Hamidi, Mehdi Pouran and Mohammad Rezai were accused of having homosexual relations and were sentenced to death in the preliminary court. Mosatafai adds after appealing to the Supreme Court, three of them were acquitted while Ebrahim Hamidi’s death sentence was upheld.

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I am a human being. The fight for gay rights is nothing more than an acceptance that I as a human being is not too evil... meaning that I am as good as the moralists who blame me for the world's ills. They are just hypocritical pharisees.

That is why, though I am not religious, I am very interested in the struggle for the affirmation of gay people in the Christian church. And, for one gay man to be made Bishop, because it is not consionable for him to be refused because of his sexuality. If this news is true, it is pure, sweet, honey.

The Church of England may be on the verge of promoting a gay priest to bishop, a step that would widen the split over sexuality in the global Anglican Communion.

If that happens, it would appear to be a significant turnaround for Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, spiritual leader of the Church of England and the world's Anglicans, who recently imposed sanctions on the U.S. Episcopal Church for electing a lesbian bishop.

According to newspaper reports, Williams is prepared to back the elevation of the Very Rev. Jeffrey John, who withdrew seven years ago from an appointment as a suffragan (assistant) bishop in the face of a heated controversy about his homosexuality. Williams' office will not comment.

"I think the strength of the opposition is much weaker this time," Rev. Canon Giles Goddard, the chairman of Inclusive Church, said Tuesday. His group was founded by people disappointed by John's failure to become a bishop in 2003.

John, who is now dean of St. Albans Cathedral, might be seen as a more acceptable candidate than the U.S. bishop because he has declared he is celibate — and therefore not in violation of church teaching.

The farce of celibacy is the fly in the cup, but,... it is not my religion.

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Here is one very funny thing.

In Uganda, Ssempa shows gay porn in church and elsewhere without any consequences. But, when DJs elsewhere dare show his rant.... why, Ssempa is not that palatable...!

Two YFM DJs are under fire for playing a homophobic rant by a Ugandan minister on air.

'Mukwevho poked fun at a gay colleague on air'

Each of the two aired the clip, on different days, and listeners heard the chairman of the National Task Force against Homosexuality in Uganda, Pastor Martin Ssempa, fuming about "sodomy and homosexuality being forbidden in Uganda".

YFM will have to face a tribunal of the Broadcasting Complaints Commission tomorrow because a listener has complained about the "hate speech" that Mukwevho - best known as MacG - was "promoting" when he played the recording on his MacG Unleashed show.

After playing the clip, Mukwevho poked fun at a gay colleague on air, repeating some of Ssempa's bizarre and unprintable statements.

The unnamed listener wrote that Mukwevho was "laughing hysterically".

"The colleague is obviously at this time infuriated, because of the lies this guy was saying, and MacG proceeded to laugh as he asked his colleague, producer Junior Dikwa, if he performed the acts spoken of by Ssempa," wrote the listener.

Dikwa, who said his homosexuality was "not a state secret", declined to comment, saying it was a "sensitive issue" and he had not received permission from his managers to speak to the media.

Though the complaint related to Mukwevho's playing of the clip on Monday, Mpho Maboi is also under fire because she had played it on her show previously.

Ssempa's video has had more than 2million views on YouTube.

In it, he talks to journalists about the "banning of homosexuality and what homosexuals do in the privacy of their bedrooms."

The Times has learned from YFM insiders that Mukwevho faced a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday and has been taken off air.

Maboi was also suspended and will hear her fate in a separate hearing tomorrow.

Both DJs refused to comment, saying they "could not speak to The Times until the station had given [them] approval".

Station chief executive Kanthan Pillay confirmed that the complaints commission hearing would be tomorrow.

"It would be entirely inappropriate for us to comment on these matters prior to their being heard by the tribunal," Pillay said.

"YFM will be formally responding to the complaint at the tribunal on Friday."

Hey, what country was that?

South Africa, I believe. At least, the website is South African.

Have a great day.

gug

Hate Speech in Uganda, and elsewhere.

Does it matter?

Once I was seated at home, our living room. There is a group of our neighbours who meet at a shop nearby in the evenings, enjoying the local gossip, alcohol and company. And, for some reason they were loudly discussing homosexuality. Yeah, I know that some of them know that I am gay.

One of them, in a raised voice (alcohol laced, I am sure) cursed gay people loudly. They should all be killed, he said. Yes, I did hear him, and of course listened harder to the conversation which was not exactly private.

No, I didnt rush out to defend gay people.

Ugandans are in a bind. There are few countries in the world where it is politically correct to gay bash. Okay, they are many. But, Uganda may be one of the concrete leaders. The political leadership. Social, and religious leadership of course. It is an 'incontrovertible truth' that to be gay is to be evil.

So, does such a high level of prejudices and bigotry matter?

It is funny that, the very people who say those things are the ones who think that they don't matter.

MP David Bahati wrote the Anti-homosexuality bill, and he is convinced that he loves gay people. In the bill, he advocated for death and life imprisonment for gay people. He is a born again Christian, and he says he wrote the bill in defence of country and family.

MP Odonga Otto says he would kill a son or daughter of his who is gay. Simply because they are gay. Ssempa jumps up and down, and uses his considerable charisma to charm and tell people how we are impossible, 'eat da poo poo' and thus in defence of the laws of 'nature, god, and culture' he would love to have us in prison and dead. The bishops of the Church of Uganda, and Seventh Day Adventists were happy with the bill, the only thing which irked them was that the death penalty was too final. At least life imprisonment would allow for 'healing...'!

As the one at the other end of that stick, to me it is hate speech. But, those guys believe that it is not. And, they are merely being morally upright and courageous.

Ssempa's moslem friends believe that the Holy Quaran's Sharia law should be applied to us sinful homosexuals. Death by stoning. It is a fact that, in all the times that I have heard them say those things, advocating for the death penalty and stoning for us, I have not heard Ssempa as a Christian try to rein in his Moslem brothers. Not when they were advocating for anti-gay vigilante groups. And, yes, I have heard that they were actually drawing up 'lists' of gay-friendly activists. In case the bill doesnt become law....!

Does hate speech matter?

Of course it does. From the rhetoric of Nazi Germany against the jews and homosexuals, to the anti-Tutsi rhetoric and exhortation to 'go and kill the cochroaches', hate speech does matter. When MP Benson Ogwal calls me a gay pervert 'because the Bible calls me so'- me pushing it into his mouth only makes him realise that it actually does matter.

Of course it matters. But, will a 'good and upright' Ugandan Christian, set on 'loving the sinner but hating the sin' ever have this ability to differentiate the stones dropping from their mouths? Not really. Because their thoughts are in a rut. Gay is evil, for the bible says so. And, is there anybody who can challenge a 'scriptural' truth? Certainly not a gay person. Nor a gay-friendly person. Because one is the sinner, and the other loves sinners. Quite apt, don't you think?

If you are a real Christian, that is the point when you will draw out the bible and point out that Jesus ate with sinners, and the Pharisees did castigate him for that.

Shows that things are not always clear cut, are they?

Gug

PS. What started this whole hate speech post was the reports of an LGBT advocate who was recently beheaded. In this post, I was careful to note that I could not confirm the motivation behind he death. I mean, the gruesome facts were on NTV. The beheaded remains of a man were found a few weeks after his disappearance. Was he an LGBT activist? Was he kuchu? Was he killed because he was kuchu? I don't know.

BUT, at the same time, I am very careful to note that it is almost impossible in Uganda to confirm the motive behind a murder. Because, relatives will deny that the dead person was gay. Hey, it is not good to talk bad of the dead. So, it may be 'rumoured' etc. But never officially confirmed.

Yet I have to remind all kuchus that we have to be vigilant.

And, as a mere statistical note, I would like to ask you, if you are a kuchu in Uganda, how many suspicious deaths of kuchus have you heard of in the last 6-9 months? I don't know whether I am being paranoid, or sensational, so I do have to hang lots of cautionary marks around these, my observations. These are the deaths that I remember in that time span.

• 
  
  Indian guy who used to cross dress and hang out at Rock Garden. Was reported found dead in a room in 'Tourist Hotel, Kampala' Report was in the red rug.
• 
  
  An expatriate mzungu found murdered in his house in Bunga. Was a teacher or administrator.
• 
  
  One guy, a student, Kenyan (?) found stabbed to death in his rental room, I believe that was in Ntinda suburb, though I might be mistaken.
• 
  
  Woman in Gulu, burnt in house in Dec 2009

Again, I have to be cautious. Play devils advocate. I am not sure what the motivation in these deaths or actions might have been. I may simply be paranoid- and in that case, I am not sorry. I live in Uganda- adequate paranoia for a kuchu is a survival skill. We have no place where we collect and document all these incidents. Most of the time we might here of them and dismiss them out of hand. But, we do live in a dangerous society. Whether we accept it or not.

Constant Vigilance, Kuchus.

gug

Religion, faith, logic; anti-gayism in Africa

Logic, thought, the ability to discern.

May all sound like something out of dream, but... my greatest gift from my parents was most likely an education. Yet education and intelligence does not save one from believing things that cannot be true, or even uncritical thinking. Just thinking of Nsaba-Buturo, his magical and mythical thinking and the blurring of the line between faith and reason, and politics.

THE day was Sunday June 20, 2010. It will always be remembered as the turning point in the fortunes of Uganda which Churchill, in 1896 and in a prophetic truth called ‘The Pearl of Africa’.

On that day, Ugandans had responded to a call by the President (read the King in the biblical parlance) of Uganda to Ugandans to gather at Kololo Independence ground in order to pray and repent the sins of the nation against God.

When the President’s call was first made, it reverberated across Uganda with incredulity, shock, skepticism and spontaneous excitement. Such a call was as unprecedented as it was significant.

I was struck by the high degree of unanimity among those who attended and believed that it was unique as well as significant in so far as consolidation of God’s blessings for Uganda is concerned.

Ugandans who take seriously the teachings of God and are conversant with the travails of this nation, especially its record on the moral scale and attendant serious consequences for their nation, should rebellion against God continue unabated, were hilarious to the core.

Apparently many had been praying for years for this day little knowing that God would answer them in the affirmative.

True, I also blame this Economist article for my thoughts...! Matter of fact, it is a good analysis of what has been happening for most of my short life. This is the reality of our social-religious life in Uganda, in Africa.

Ms Wanjiru’s own church, Jesus Is Alive Ministries, is a good example of the new genre. She can draw 100,000 worshippers to a meeting. Add in a visiting televangelist and the number can rise to as many as 500,000. Ms Wanjiru has lived the Pentecostal dream. She is from a poor family of casual labourers and eked out a life as a housemaid and toilet cleaner before working her way up to a marketing job. She then experienced a vision from God calling on her to save Africa. These days videos, CDs and other accessories can be bought from her website using credit cards or phone credit. She makes good use of Facebook, Twitter and other social media. She is not afraid to court controversy, last year baptising the boss of the Mungiki organised-crime outfit, Maina Njenga. Mr Njenga’s gang had been involved in extortion and had a history of hacking off the heads of its enemies.

But the business of owner-operated churches is competitive. A few dud sermons and the crowd thins. That is one reason why they are so upbeat and aspirational. Indeed, their insistent calls for self-discipline and education, striving and victory prompt some people to say Pentecostalism should be encouraged in Africa as the new version of Max Weber’s Protestant work ethic. The churches are certainly prominent in anti-corruption campaigns.

However, there is also plenty of hucksterism. You will be blessed with health and wealth by God, congregants are told, especially if you give generously. As in other parts of the world, the new churches in Kenya and Uganda provide a place for the ambitious poor to get ahead. Yet the real competitive advantage of the new churches in east Africa seems to be their willingness to tap, at least subliminally, into traditional beliefs. “They give full play to the enchanted mentality, which holds the world to be inhabited with ghosts and spirits,” explains Paul Gifford, a professor of African Christianity at the University of London. It makes economic sense: getting spells lifted and spirits cast out on a Sunday morning saves money on a visit to the witch doctor during the week.

New churches are good at exploiting gaps in the market and profiting from them. A Ugandan Pentecostal preacher, Martin Ssempa, for instance, has mined a rich seam of homophobia in Uganda to help build up his standing. He and other Pentecostals pushed for the tabling of an anti-homosexuality bill in the Ugandan parliament, which advocates spying on gays and proscribes imprisonment for sodomy. Earlier versions of the law called for the death penalty in some instances.

Fact, I appreciate people's religious faith. I cannot help doing that. That is why I am not an atheist. Too many people believe for me to claim that I have discovered the truth myself by not believing.

I may not believe like you do, but I appreciate your faith and religious beliefs. And, of course I can afford to be condescending and ask you to allow for my lack of faith, as you see it.

Nevertheless, I am deeply troubled when my world, my reality is forced into the reality of others because they believe certain things.

I don't believe. And, I do not appreciate being forced to believe or to act like there is a universal truth which I must accept. That riles me. Especially if that truth includes things like thinking that I am bad, to assuage anothers feelings of shame about themselves.

See, having to feel bad about myself is the same if I the characteristic chosen for shame is my skin colour, tribal origin, ethnic group, or sexuality. They are all my characteristics. I will own up to them. Reading this article written by Buturo- it makes me feel sober. Because of the depth of his faith, and evident self desception. It is not evident to him, though I tend to think it very much out there. In the name of his idea of god, morality, faith, he has used a moral seive to segregate the whole mass of humanity into good and bad. To him it is a self evident truth that those who don't have his idea of morality are bad. Those who offend or transgress his idea of morality are anti-god, anti-truth, anti-human. Just because they do not see the world like he does.

See, all this does not matter, until the Honourable Nsaba-Buturo wants to send me to prison for life, or to kill me because I have HIV and am a homosexual. That is what he wants. No, I don't want to split hairs of whether he has ever said so. The words that he shared of his thoughts with the world regarding his support of the anti-homosexuality bill are self evident. Homosexuals should forget about human rights. Period.

Nsaba Buturo is a PhD (in economics, and not one of those awarded for looking great.). He got it from a university in Britain, if I am not wrong. So, he is hardly like the mass of uneducated Ugandans. But, all his education is negated by his blind allegiance to his faith. In my mind, there is little difference between Dr. Nsaba Buturo and one of the common Ugandans who sneaks into the shrine of a traditional witchdoctor and is convinced to sacrifice his son or daughter for some imaginary wealth. [In Uganda, human sacrifice is a fact of life.]

True, I see little difference between the reasoning there, and of Dr Martin Ssempa who preaches that belief in his idea of the Christian god is to embrace anti-gay hatred, just because you believe. To me, that is plain weird.

Yet I have to accept that Ssempa, Buturo, Bahati et al do think, and believe, like the vast majority of my country mates. That is just fact, which I cannot run away from.

And, I cannot blame it on only Ugandans. That is another common fault.

We Ugandans say 'Ugandans'- as if that covers it. Just like we sometimes think 'Africans'... forgetting that no group has a monopoly on stupidity, duplicity, and the ability to lie to ourselves, or accept others lies, if they are wrapped in suitable covers. That seems to be the most important criteria.

Another example, my friend Dr Martin 'eat da poo poo' Ssempa has had it rough because he failed to appreciate the differences between his audience in Uganda, and that in the west. He raises money from the west, and draws his political support from the masses in Uganda. So, the anti-homosexuality bill hit him squarely because he failed to appreciate that lying in Uganda in this day and age of the internet could have problems... If you have watched Vanguard's 'Missionaries of Hate', you will have got a feel of his beliefs and thoughts. But, to use his elegant words, what is maana in the US is poo poo in Uganda, and the reverse applies.

So, after a sustained campaign of targeting his double speak, you would expect that those who are blessed in the US with better education, access to the internet, more critical thinking- that they would have run away from Ssempa's brand of Christianity? But, no. Some do still believe in Ssempa. And, they are not ashamed to say so.... or to say some of the things that he has said to the west as fact. There is this church in the US which Martin numbers amongst his staunch supporters. They claim that what has been said about Martin is wrong....

The occasion was compassionate HIV testing for the masses. In the US, HIV is mainly a gay disease, and the church in question allied with the community to avail free testing and counseling services. A laudable objective.

But, and herein is the rub. That church supports Ssempa, who is reputed to be an HIV activist. He is an anti-gay HIV activist. This is the real world, and Ssempa's awards on both fronts are real things in Uganda. He believes that gay Ugandans shouldnt be included in the country's HIV programmes. He has explicitly said that. He believes in the HIV prevention powers of the anti-homosexuality bill 2009. (Gay ugandans imprisoned for life, those who are HIV positive given the death sentence.).

And, he is a Christian pastor.

But Ssempa has widespread support among American evangelicals, including those who run Canyon Ridge. Ssempa is listed as a ministry partner of the church.

Church leaders said they support Ssempa financially, but they refused to say how much they give to his ministry. Mitch Harrison, an executive pastor at Canyon Ridge, said activists have it all wrong. He said Ssempa actually opposes the more disturbing aspects of the Ugandan legislation that demands the death penalty for homosexuals who molest children or rape the handicapped.

"This year, we've had discussions with Martin about [the legislation], and I can tell you what's being reported about him in the American media is wrong," Harrison said. "He's repeatedly said he wants the death penalty [provision] removed and that he's not in favor of death for [homosexuals]."

You want to read more about that thing? Check out Box Turtle bulletin here, and here.

Now, are those contradictions or not?

If you live the reality of my world, you will understand that all these are 'evident truths'

I used to argue, long time ago, that 'logic is a perception'. I still think that is true... but unfortunately, I have failed to use that truth to my advantage. Too soft...!


A great day...




gug

Blackmail, Extortion: Cleanse Uganda Style

With a twist. I believe the reason why this letter was sent to one who was presumed gay was to farther the aim of ‘cleansing’ Uganda.

The email address names were those of Peter Karamaga on Thu, Mar 18, 2010 at 10:32 AM -, He sent it from an email address cleanseuganda@yahoo.com The language and composition are fair, and the detail of the supposed recipient is breathtaking. To protect the person’s identity, I am changing all the personal details of the one who is being coerced. I am not extending such a courtesy to the person who is doing the blackmailing.

-------

Dear Mr. Semakula Zilaba,

 

You will understandably be surprised both about the content of this e-mail and by the its having finally arrived into your inbox. I will not go into any niceties because I dont have time for anything like that and I think people like you do not deserve them.

You will get to know who we work for ,what I do and what we want from you during the course of this e-mail.

 

You are well aware of the recent developments in Uganda regarding the issue of homosexuality, Gays, lesbians and anything that people like you would like to call yourselves. I am part of an organisation that has been formed to not only respond to the threat posed by people of whom you are a part but also to see to it that people like you are dealt with a way that prevents your numbers from multiplying to stain this beautiful country.

 

We recently got your contacts from some of our people working from the inside of the organisations that you homosexuals have set up and we have decided that we will make you and offer . We would like to let you know that .....we know you very well, and we know a lot about you! So do not try to play any silly tricks as we are very serious with this assignment and any time wasting and attempts to be smart by you will be severely punished.

 

What do we know about you?

You are about 34 years old, studied in King’s college then Namilyango college. You have a woman with whom you have a child. This woman is called Namubiru Siyada working with State House.

Your father is a one Mr Serugoti Michael who used to work with Bakharesa Company limited in Kampala but he disappeared off our radar . We shall find him though.

 

You work for an organisation within Makerere University called the Computer Institute and you also do part time work as at Synoviate at Nakasero. Most friday evenings you are seen heading to that place at around 9 pm.

 

We could tell you more about where you live and what your lifestyle is like but we trust that you dont doubt we know all that too and so for now we shall go straight to why we have written this letter to you.

 

We have been tasked with the job of stopping the spread of homosexuality and identifying and dealing with all stubborn homosexuals and sexual deviants in Uganda.

We work with many organisations to identify people like you and have contacts even within organisations like yours (SMUG) that inform us of your acitivities.

 

We have zeroed in on you as one of those hard core homosexuals (your family status not withstanding) that we could use as an example to the rest and this is our offer to you.

 

1)You should provide us with a list of all the homosexuals you know who are within kampala and Jinja districts whom you have come into contact with. We are aware you have not been very actively involved in sex with fellow men over the past three years but we know you are aware of those who engage in these acts.

 

2)You should also write a letter denouncing homosexulaity just as one of your colleagues (George Oundo) recently did, this we shall use as evidence that we are making headway in our fight against homosexuality in this country.

 

By the way you should be aware that people like George Oundo who have renounced that practice are some of those with whom we are working to tackle this cancer and we are making great progress.

Some of your friends as you might or might not know are already in our custody and what will determine whether they will ever be seen again will be there "cooperation " with our boys.

You are still out there because we are aware of some of the loose but significant connections you have to General Kale Kayihura and to some army elements too.

However you should know that in due time, these will not stop us from achieving our aims too.

 

For now that is all we require of you.

Failure to cooperate with us......

 

1)We shall expose you first to your employers then to your family and all your friends too.

 

2)we shall make sure (your employer) ,knows about your horrible habits and you know what has happened to fellow homosexuals who were working at your place of work. You are aware of the case of Mr. Lutakoome ....do you know why he was sacked from Makerere and now he cannot get any job as within Kampala? It is because he refused to cooperate with us.

We shall give you the same treatment if you too dont cooperate fully with us.

 

3)You will be exposed to all those in your neighbourhood and whereever else you attempt to move too we shall do the same again.

You already know that most of your neighbours are suspicious of you anyway since they hardly ever see you with a woman and yet your are a well off man!

 

That is just the tip of the iceberg for what we plan for you in case you dont cooperate.

 

We have your celphone contcat and we shall get in touch with you soon .

 

So think about our offer to you and get back to us within 1 month.

 

 

Peter .

National Anti- Homosexual Taskforce.

Kampala branch.

------

So, why am I doing this? Why publish the email with all of those details?

This kind of vileness thrives best in darkness. It is the fear of exposure which they hold over our heads. So? Let me see how well they thrive in the glare of light. Have a feeling that is not something that they would like….!

And, of course I will remember Peter Karamaga, the National Anti-Homosexual Taskforce, and cleanseuganda@yahoo.com 

gug

Turning you Gay

A letter to my fellow Ugandans. No, I cannot, and will not, turn you gay. Because, that privilege was left for whatever deity makes people gay.

I know that as Ugandans, we tend to be extremely ignorant of all things homosexual. Or gay, or whatever perjorative word we use or think about gay people. Our prejudices are extremely deep, and well cemented. We believe, collectively, that gay people are not actually human beings.

Listening to the NBS programme, I was also struck by the fact that most of the people who called in were asking for the death penalty for people such as me. Just because we are gay, or homosexual.
(See, Princess, my paranoia was deeply rooted, and not unreasonable. Fellow Ugandans do want to kill me, simply because I am gay, and it is no joke. It is no whine. It is simple fact)
It is your privilege, fellow Ugandan, if you want to kill me. When you try to kill me, it becomes a bit of a problem... Since I am not suicidal at all. I am gay, not suicidal.

But, being Ugandan, with the usual 'prejudices' for deep seated ignorance, I tend to be embarassed by ignorance on this scale. So, I would like to correct some deeply embarassing 'rumours' and lies that Ssempa and Nsaba-Buturo are ever mentioning, saying that these are facts.

Here are some glaring, but popular misconcepts about we gay people, homos, or homosexuals.

• We are actually Ugandans. Someone took the liberty to question my 'Ugandanness', and took offence that I misspelt his home villages name. I just had to point out, (rudely, as an angry Ugandan would) that I may not come from his particular corner of this country, or speak his mother tongue, but I still am Ugandan.
  
  
• Our gayness was not from outside.
  It gets old to have our sexuality blamed on 'outsiders'. Whether it is the 'arabs' or the 'westerners' or the 'whites' etc. I know I am gay, not because of infectious infusion from outside the country that i took while young, but I am gay because I am gay. Born so. Blame a god, if you want to. So is my lover, who testifies growing up in the village, wondering whether he was the only one in the world. Dont blame us on other cultures.
  And, remember that the very cultures that you blame our sexuality on, have a history of homophobia. As recently as last century, Nazi Germany was purifying the master race by removing all homosexuals, by imprisonment and death. That is historical fact. And, the Dutch, who are so 'pro-gay' at the moment, also had their pogroms against gay countrymates. The English used to blame it on the French, who blamed the Italians... ad nauseum.
  Fact is, you dont have to blame anyone for my sexuality. We happen to be what we are, and we are a natural part of the diversity that our country is. Please dont blame the 'whites' or others. It embarasses me.
  
  
• Gay for Money?
  I know. There is a cousin of mine who, knowing that I am gay, pesters me for contacts to go out on 'kyeyo'. At least that is what I think he intimates, that I must have plenty of contacts. No, I dont. No,  I am not gay because I was bought.
  Being gay in Uganda is very, very tough. This blog barely explains many stresses... I would not be gay in Uganda for any much amount of money. Yes, like all good Ugandans, I would pretend to be gay so that I get some free money, but, believe me, there is nothing like that. My life is not worth the billions that Bill Gates or Elton John has. And, it is my life, my livelihood, my very existence that is constantly on line as I live in Uganda. No amount of money can buy that. No amount of money can soothe my fear that I will be arrested and start fighting my way through Uganda's corrupt courts. That is a daily fact of life. If the Bahati Bill passes, I am going to be in more fear of life imprisonment and death. Anytime, any day. That is a fact. Would I be gay for that? I tell you, not in my country, Uganda.
  
  
• My being gay is not 'infectious'. It is not an infection that I will pass on by touching you.
  I am very serious. Reading this article, I had that feeling. That where I to get in touch with this Honourable MP, she would fear that I would infect her.
  
  
• We dont recruit.
  So help me gods, we dont. Oh, I have slept with women. That didnt make me straight. And, I confess that I have made passes at straight men. As circumspectly as I could.
  This fear, that we kuchus are going to recruit children is ridiculous. It is so ridiculous that I routinely brush it off. But, most Ugandans believe it like gospel truth. Yes, I know, when Ssempa, Nsaba-Buturo and other anti-gay warriors say it as a fact, many people believe it. But, it is just a big, large, lie. Not a white one. It hurts us a lot. That is one of the reasons fellow Ugandans want the Bahati bill to pass, to make sure that I as a homosexual are confined to prison or the grave.
  
  
• We dont multipy.
  For a member of parliament, a leader of the people, elected (I hope) to say something this ridiculous, I find it unconfortable. And very embarassing.
  I know, Nsaba-Buturo has also said it a number of times. That where will Uganda go when all Ugandans are homosexuals.
  That is like saying that, because Sweden allows gay marriages, all Swedes are gay. Are all Americans gay? Or Europeans? Or other peoples?
  We gay people are a minority. We will never 'take over' Uganda, or the world. We will always remain a minority. We have no 'homosexual agenda' to take over the world. I appeal to you as fellow Ugandans, please dont feel this visceral fear of us making the country gay. It is simply not possible. It is a fear which many people seem to have, that if we are not persecuted, if we are not jailed, if we are not condemned to death, then soon Uganda will all be gay. Even our more gay friendly neighbour to the East, Kenya is not gay!

I am trying to be as objective as possible. These lies should be called out.

I have an ulteriour motive of course. I want to live in peace in my country Uganda. But, I am also Ugandan enough to be deeply embarassed by this kind of blatant lie. Bite me, I am Ugandan!

gug

The Sentence is Death

Just saw this article from UGPulse. One of the Ugandan news outlets. No, the punishment for homosexuality is not 14 years in prison. That is the old law. The punishment in the bill is a Life time in prison. With no negotiations about this.

And, for ‘aggravated homosexuality’ as defined by the law, the sentence is Death.

Here is the wrongly reported article….

The Anti-Homosexuality bill was on Wednesday evening tabled in Parliament for the First reading.

The bill, which was tabled by Ndorwa West MP, David Bahati, seeks to criminalize the practice of homosexuality in Uganda and penalize individuals involved in the practice.

The homosexual groups in Uganda have on several occasions protested the government over what they describe as violation of their rights but the government has struck to its gum to outlaw the inhumane practice.

The Minister of Uganda for Ethics and Integrity, Dr. James Nsaba Buturo explains that once passed into law, the bill will rid Uganda of the vice that has continued to be a menace in secondary schools.

Dr. Buturo adds that government will not hesitate to shame countries that give aid to Africa on condition that it supports homosexuality.

Once the bill is passed into law, anyone found practicing homosexuality will face 14 years in prison whereas those found guilty of operating brothels where homosexuals meet will also be liable to 14 years imprisonment.

South Africa and Gay Christians

Following the lead of the Americans, other churches are stepping up on the challenge of gay laity.


I am aware that the Methodists did not want a gay related measure, but the Episcopalians have led the way, and the Lutherans have also gone their way. Despite the opposition from within the congregations. Yeah, for the methodists, you cannot be Gay and Christian. Or Methodist. What would Christ say about that???


But, and a big but, here is something that is happening in South Africa. Part of the Anglican Communion, this in Africa, is starting to do something about gay sheep. The other sheep, indeed!


Here is the article

Church makes key decision on gay couples

August 23 2009 at 10:52PM

By Staff Reporter

The Anglican Church in the southern part of Africa has taken a small step towards accepting gay people in "faithful, committed relationships" - although civil marriage between same sexes is not legal in any of these countries other than South Africa.

The Anglican Diocese of Cape Town, which includes Anglican bishops from South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Mozambique, Namibia, St Helena, Tristan da Cunha and Angola, passed a resolution at the weekend asking the church's bishops to provide pastoral guidelines for gay parishioners living in "covenanted partnerships".

The resolution was proposed by St George's Cathedral clergy, as they said the parish had come to be seen as a "safe space" for gay Christians in Cape Town.

The Cathedral needed guidelines to help it provide pastoral care to gay parishioners in same-sex relationships.

Globally, the Anglican Church does not accept same-sex marriages. The Anglican Consultative Council, which represents Anglican Churches around the world, has put a moratorium on the "authorisation of public rites of blessing for same-sex unions".

On Sunday, Archbishop Thabo Makgoba said the synod's resolution might be seen as tame, but he saw it as "an important first step to saying: 'Lord, how do we do ministry in this context?'"

"I'm a developmental person. I don't believe in big bangs. If you throw a little pebble into water, it sends out concentric circles and hopefully that way change comes from that," he said.

He said the issue of same-sex partnerships has led to a schism in the Anglican Church in the United States. He wanted to avoid the issue becoming a source of division in the Anglican Church in southern Africa.

"In South Africa we have laws that approve a civil union in this context, but not in the other countries within our province. In central Africa and north Africa, both the Anglican Church and the state say 'no'.

'I am not one for numbers'

"The reason for this resolution was because we have these parishioners, and the law provides for them to be in that state, so how do we pastorally respond to that?" Makgoba said.

Asked how close the voting was, Makgoba replied: "I am not one for numbers, but for the quality of the debate."

An Anti-Gay, HIV Activist

Is that possible? Logically, an HIV activist should not be anti-gay. Or is that not so logical?

I have been reading the Lancet article about HIV and gay men in Africa. Seems as if we gay Africans have been living an alternate reality. An artificial reality forced upon us and perpetuated by ignorance, by hate and by pure, undiluted conceit.

Is it possible to be an HIV activist who is rabidly and frankly anti-gay?

In Africa, it is. In Uganda it is.

Why should it be ‘impossible’? How can a person fight HIV and at the same time fight gay men, historically the most vulnerable group of human beings to HIV infection?

Reading the article, some scientific facts have been glaringly visible. Forgive me, if you are from the west and do not live the reality of an African gay man. These are things which, more than 26 years since the appearance of HIV amongst us human beings, these are facts which are known truths.

These are the facts.

• HIV/AIDS was first identified and diagnosed amongst gay men.
  
  
• Gay men were very quickly identified as a very high risk group to HIV. Highly vulnerable.
  
  
• Extensive (gay men inspired) prevention programmes soon proved that the dreaded disease could be controlled. Even before drugs were available.

And what happened in Africa?

We were, (and still are), invisible.

So, it is possible for an HIV activist to be anti-gay. Who?

Ssempa of course. Pastor Martin Ssempa.

In Uganda, he has been lauded as an HIV activist. He has worn awards. He has campaigned for ‘moral’ HIV prevention. Abstinence. Being Faithful. He has gone to the US and before Congress testified about HIV and prevention in Uganda. He has earned degrees on that basis, including a doctorate (hope am not streatching the truth too much.)

Ok, he has also burnt condoms as bad HIV prevention measures. He is anti-Condom.

And the same individual is anti-gay.

He has won awards for his anti-gay activism. He has started gay witch-hunts in society, in church. His aim is clear, and he has stated it often. To Eliminate Homosexuality from the Country. He is a very (the most) vocal anti-gay activist in the country, if not on the continent. He believes that gay people are the depths of evil. And he believes that gay Africans, gay Ugandans should not have HIV prevention programmes. In his words, having an HIV prevention programme for gay Ugandans would be furthering the homosexual agenda. True, here are the exact words as quoted. “These people are just looking at ways of legitimising their practice, which is illegal and deviant in our society,” said Pastor Ssempa. “Our previous experience showed us that bringing homosexuals into campaigns against HIV only gives them a chance to propagate their illegal and unnatural acts.”

So, Ssempa believes that, it is better for gay Ugandans to get HIV than for the country’s moral purity to be risked by making sure that gay Ugandans get an HIV prevention programme.

Better to have HIV than to have homosexuals.

I know, if you are from the west, you are shaking your head. Is it possible? (Oh, I had forgotten that this illustruous HIV activist did testify to the US Congress. It is in the west...!)

Absolutely. And, just to rub some salt into the wounds of your incredulity, let me inform you that the individual is a Christian, who does all this in the name of Jesus, and loving homosexuals. He is an outstanding, upright man, fiery, hell and brimstone preacher and messenger of god.

Anyway, this would all not matter if he stayed at home and did nothing about his pet hate. Truth, if I sat back and didn’t write these articles, these posts, my incredulous examination of Ssempa would remain a personal issue. So it is with him…

Ssempa is a very powerful man, a huge fish in a small pond. Granted, he is not as huge as Kayanja, the pastor that he spitefully accused of homosexuality. But Ssempa is big. He moves in rarefied circles. He hobnobs with the president, was in fact a representative of the First Lady when he testified in the US congress. For years, he has held sway in the HIV prevention programs in the country, pushing an anti-condom, pro-abstinence and pro-faithfullnes programme in the country. His gimmicks and bombastry don’t hide the fact that he is listened to, and influences programmes.

Fact, 25 years after the start of this epidemic, gay Ugandans have just started getting access to information. To know that they are at risk, (oh, they thought they were not. After all, HIV prevention was frankly heterosexual. Why not assume that homosexual sex is risk free?) They have just learnt that oil based lubricants destroy condoms. They are learning that condoms, when used correctly, do protect. And, they are learning that the necessary, life saving, water-based lubricants are not available in the country. Yes, we are learning. Slow, but surely. It is a global village. Knowledge couldn’t be hidden completely, and forever. Let us for a moment remember the thousands of our friends who have died needlessly of HIV, who are living with a virus they could have prevented.

Granted that Ssempa follows ‘moral HIV prevention’, but God help us immoral, useless sinners. HIV prevention for those of us who are homosexual is not moral. So, by that criteria, it is entirely consistent to be an HIV activist who is fiercely anti-homosexual. Anti-gay.

He wants tougher laws, (current laws allow us to talk to other people, and to have sex. Though, if caught, we risk a life time in prison.) He doesn’t want a gay HIV prevention program in Uganda. Oh, he has worked against it, and rails that the homosexual money which comes into the country is for ‘recruitment’ of homosexuals. It is not for HIV prevention, but ‘making youths homosexual’.

Genocide?

This is a question I have asked before. Look up the word, it means the elimination of a group of people defined by a characteristic. Intentional elimination.

I cannot truthfully say that Ssempa DOESN’T know that HIV is a major problem amongst gay men. Does he want gay Ugandans to get HIV? He will say no. He doesn’t. His actions for upward of 25 years have intimated something else. He has the knowledge, but he stands in the way. His actions say he wants gay Ugandans to get HIV. He will deny them knowledge of HIV prevention. He will deny them condoms. He will deny them water based lubricant. He will allow them the ignorance of believing that they are not particularly at risk from HIV. Infection, death by hate and ignorance.

Reminds me of Jesus (read him as a philosopher and you will be surprised at the depth of his insight.) Jesus was railing against Pharisees. They stand in a doorway, and don’t enter. And they refuse every one else from entering.

Apt. Very apt.

An anti-gay HIV activist? In the virtual, un-earthly, reality of Uganda, Pastor Martin Ssempa manages to be exactly that rare, impossible thing.

gug