Kampala — RETIRED Anglican Bishop Christopher Ssenyonjo and Integrity Uganda (IU) have welcomed the election of Can. Gene Robinson, a self-confessed gay, as the new bishop of the diocese of New Hampshire, USA.

Speaking to The New Vision yesterday, Ssenyonjo said, "I am not a homosexual myself. I am like Saint Paul. He was not a Gentile, but he was pleading for the Gentiles." He said St. Paul is his mentor.

Ssenyonjo, who was contacted on his mobile phone, said he was in total agreement with a statement issued yesterday by IU president Denis Iraguha welcoming Robinson's election.

"Salvation is for those who need it," he said, adding that nobody should be excluded on basis of his sexual orientation.

Ssenyonjo is the chairperson of IU, an organisation for gays, lesbians and bisexuals. IU is affiliated to Integrity USA. Ssenyonjo's activities in IU have put him at odds with the leadership of the Church of Uganda (COU) which has threatened to sever relations with the diocese of New Hampshire.

"I believe God is working. We cannot fight God," said Ssenyonjo.

Denis Iraguha, the president of IU, said said their statement on Robinson was posted to one of the most widely visited websites for gays, Anglican LGBT.

"This election not only represents Christ's warm embrace to the Episcopal Church in USA but also a warm compassionate embrace to the whole creation of God. And to us the marginalised, the advent has supplied to us hope and courage as well as strength to journey on," the statement said.