The Independent (Kampala)

Uganda: I Insist, Mwenda is Wrong On Gays

opinion

Kampala — Since I moved the Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2009 on the 14th October 2009, there has been overwhelming support from Ugandans and people who believe in moral values alround the world. There have also been attacks from the Gay Community and their sympathizers and our donor partners have put a lot of pressure on our government and disrespectfully interfering in our democratic process of law making. Ironically back in their countries and site an example in the USA state of Maine, homosexuality was rejected in a referendum. They have intentionally used the suggested close on aggravated homosexuality which was an import from an already passed Act on defilement to alarm people that the Bill is about killing gays. This is mere distortion of facts.

Unfornately my friend Andrew Mwenda a man in position of influence, whom I hold with high esteem for his contribution in the Ugandan media, writes in defense of homosexuality when he certainly knows it is an absolute perversion. He urges that the Bill seeks to discriminate against the minority (homosexuals). I believe in freedom of speech for all unless the speech causes physical harm and that is why I shall not condemn Andrew but speak about some of the issues he raised. No one knows but whatever transpires from this Bill in Uganda may be the onset of a worldwide battle of values and the defense of traditional heterosexual family.

I appreciate the need to protect the rights and freedoms of the minorities but I have always tried to understand the arguments that pro-gay advance but failed to make meaning out of them. To date some questions remain unanswered; is homosexuality one of the human rights? Is homosexuality an inherent behavior or behavior by conscious choice? The answers to the above questions have generated controversies worldwide. However, In line with this I have examined chapter 4 of our constitution, which is consistent with the UN human bill of rights, over and over again, and I can undoubtedly state that homosexuality is not one of human rights we cherish. I am happy that no single Ugandan or other individuals and organization has come up in clear terms that homosexuality is a right.

Our worries as much as they are for the current generation, are also for the future generation. This battle is about our children who are being lured into this vile and our moral stand as a country. Indeed it true that this bill was driven by our deep fear of God and the e zeal act according to his will but also the need to defend the age old traditional heterosexual family which is rooted in our culture as Ugandans. The vile evil is spreading in schools, churches and NGOs and if we don't take action now we shall reach a stage whereby it is the homosexuals who shall be tabling bills to criminalize all morals and legalise all manners of perversion.

Let us now look at the "concerns" raised by Andrew Mwenda with reference to his article in the November issue of the Independent "Bahati: Don't usurp Gods power" .It is key that we note how Mwenda inclined much on the religious aspect of the bill and much of his argument was to justify that the task of judging and consequently punishing sin should be left to God. Societies wouldn't need law and order if all the tasks of countering sins were to be left for God. I believe that we are doing God's will who acts through us in instituting some of the corrective measures necessary for harmonious human survival. Theft, murder, adultery, lying and many more are all sins and there are laws that have been made to counter them. It would therefore be absurd if we were to leave it all up to God to work on all these sins like Andrew says. Anarchy and all vile perversions would become the norm and I don't believe Andrew is advocating for that.

God fearing values teach us how to differiate between right from wrong and I agree with the biblical condemnation of the homosexual lifestyle because homosexuality is not a right, it is not a faith, it is simply wrong. We need to be able to do more than cite Bible or Koran verses. Ugandans let stand up for the values that live in the hearts of all God fearing people and in doing so it does not make us homophobic.

Coming back to the Anti Homosexuality Bill, Mwenda tried to compare the fight against slavery by the abolitionists to that of the homosexuals and their fight for recognition. Here we should be careful since the slavery in America was forced upon the black people who had committed no sin other than being black people, while homosexuality as we have discovered is funded by rich ill intentioned perverts whose sole intention is to spread this abominable behavior . The fight for human dignity by the abolitionists should therefore not be compared to the undignified behavior of homosexuality being promoted by perverts.

The other issue Mwenda raised was about similar homosexual tendencies in animals. What Mwenda forgot is that there is a clear distinction between Human beings and animals. Some animals eat their young ones and I wonder whether Mwenda would advocate for child sacrifice or cannibalism .We cannot start comparing our sexuality or any other aspect of Humanity to that of creatures with no morals and I insist that there shouldn't even be any comparison at all .Human beings are simply Human beings and animals remain animals no matter the scientific arguments. He goes on to compare the wonderful people of God; the Pope and the hierarchy of Catholic Church who sacrificed to serve God and humanity in celibacy with the homosexuals who have chosen to do bad out of their selfish interest of sin. This is an insult to the people of God, Andrew.

Mwenda went ahead to remind us that Homosexuality is as old as life without considering that so are other vile actions in Human existence such as murder, rape and all sorts of abominable crimes which are also as old as life itself. In using age of homosexuality as a justification for its legitimacy would be the same as advocating for Murder or any other age old unlawful behavior as a human right. A wrong cannot be justified by numbers or age.

As the debate rages on, it is important to inform the public; that the Bill is now at the committee stage under the Presidential Affairs Committee and every interested individual or organization is free and welcome to have an input in the bill in order to come up with a fine piece of legislation that sums up the aspirations and values of Ugandans and for Ugandans. The tide is turning for the homosexuals who have tried to black mail people under the guise of minority rights. It is time to resolve this threat to our children and society now before it is too late. I don't want to imagine a world in which my son will invite me to a wedding where he will be marrying Mwenda's son. It wouldn't get any worse.


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Comments 1 to 5 of 5 Post a comment

  • tuller16549
    Dec 3 2009, 18:05

    Thank God I'm not Ugandan, it goes to so you the ignorance of people like you that don't have the faintest clue of what the hell they are talking about. When did you become an expert on what God considers an perversion. You so called christians or whatever you consider yourselves need to look within yourself before you chose to make moralistic viewpoints on other human beings. I am a proud black gay American man, and no one will make a judgement on my life and who I choose to love. For one it is no ones business but my own and in no way am I out to convert children to the gay lifestyle. I without a doubt know that God loves and accepts me for who I am, I'm far from any pervert as you consider us, only God can make that judgement call and i suggest that you look within yourself and look at the hate that you are condoning against your fellow man, that in itself is sin enough.

  • samuelsenide
    Dec 4 2009, 21:00

    It is ufortunate to hear that some donor countries are threatening to withdraw thier funds because Uganda would not tolorate Homosexuality. It is with a heavy heart that I find this so anoying. We are trying to fight HIV/AIDS and yet someone else is trying to tell us to get involved in an act so imoral and not just imoral but a very the very source and the origin of the AIDS virus. Oh yes we all kow how and where it started way back in the 70s. Let the bill go through for the sake of our childred and the country.

  • pj
    Dec 16 2009, 07:46

    tuller16549;

    Indeed that God you are not Ugandan!!!

  • pj
    Dec 16 2009, 07:48

    tuller16549;

    Indeed THANK GOD YOU ARE NOT UGANDAN!!

  • sdkeirst
    Dec 8 2009, 08:15

    Honorable MP Bahati,

    In regard to your example of the US State of Maine rejection homosexuality, you are not correct. The voters of the state rejected a law legalizing same sex marriage only. Maine still has laws that protect gays and lesbians from discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodation, credit and education. Maine has no law criminalizing homosexuality between consenting adults. In fact no US state criminalizes homosexuality, due to the US Supreme court decision in Lawrence v. Texas in 2003, which struck down all sodomy laws.

    The people of our country are divided on what degree of acceptance of homosexuals society should afford, but almost no one believes that homosexual behavior between consenting adults should be criminalized. Most people believe gays and lesbians should be treated with respect and compassion, and that they should be protected from discrimination. In five states same sex marriage is allowed to give same sex couples the same equal rights that heterosexual couples enjoy.

    Most people I have talked to about your proposed law for Uganda are shocked and horrified that a country would return to medieval punishment of homosexuals in 2009. Please remember the words of Jesus “Judge not, lest ye be judged,” "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone,” and "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.”

    May God forgive you.