New Vision (Kampala)

Uganda: Anti-Gay Bill to Be Tabled Soon

Kampala — A stringent Bill against homosexuality is in the offing, the state minister for ethics and integrity, Dr. James Nsaba Buturo, has said.

Addressing a press conference at the Media Centre yesterday, Buturo said the country was besieged by homosexuality, pornography, prostitution, human sacrifice, drug abuse, embezzlement and witchcraft to the extent that it was "dangerously becoming a permissive society."

He noted that once the Bill is passed into law, it will be an offence to publish and distribute literature on homosexuality or advocate for it.

He also stated that it would become impossible for homosexuals to address press conferences and attract people to their cause, once the Bill becomes law.

He, however, declined to reveal the penalties for offenders.

Buturo said he was under pressure from some development partners "to go slow on homosexuals".

He disclosed that some donors were threatening to withdraw funding if Uganda becomes more hostile to homosexuals.

"I all the time tell them to leave us alone. I say (to them) that Uganda's integrity is more than the money they give us. We are not going to be taken advantage of on account of financial support," Buturo stated.

After all, he remarked, 70% of the aid that Uganda gets is repatriated.

The minister dismissed the notion that people are born homosexual.

"Ugandans who are choosing to promote illegality should not abuse the rights of the majority," he warned.

Buturo urged religious institutions to fight immorality, arguing that they are "supremely mandated to address matters of the soul."

He disclosed that he was looking after 60 former homosexuals, saying they are under threat from their former colleagues. He, however, did not name the place where they are being kept.

The minister stressed that the Government would not create special places for prostitutes to do their trade.


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Comments 1 to 1 of 1 Post a comment

  • kowa Tigs Fats
    Jul 14 2009, 06:59

    Well I am just responding as the wave of such strength has moved the piece inside me. First of all I think homosexuality is a habit/ or correct me a way of ones life. Society has lots of such. Take smoking its a killer , take HIV aids is a killer , take adultery is a killer to mention a few. We have habits and live with them. I dont think anyone would go in someones home to ask how he makes love to his wife or husband. similary homosexuality. Its something a person is born with and cant control. Denying him /her to do what is part of his life is just telling them to sneak.. and all that comes with that. This reminds me of a situation with disabilities. How many ministers have really cared about tabling bills to help those that need help like street kids, disabled members of our society that need assistance and our unreserved support. If a cabinet minister aims hard as to table a bill about ones sexual habits that dont harm society in anyway .. when we have lots of social and economic demanding problems that require our dear politician attension, then you know that we got bigger problems to worry about. Do you really think you can tame bedroom habits? we have them we live with them so deal with it. You simply will have people doing it privately like marriage of secretcy when most men and woman are puplicly married . Stop and think. Is it really a big deal that someone preffers men to women .. ? come on. we need to look at reall problems and use public money to good use. Thank you.