Usurping Uganda

Written by Allysyn Overton on Wednesday, December 02, 2009

The Uganda Parliament is currently considering the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, 2009, which criminalizes homosexuality AND HIV positive statuses.  The second clause of the bill states that a person who is convicted of homosexual sex is sentenced to life in prison.  If that person is also HIV positive, they commit “aggravated homosexuality” and receive the death penalty.  Furthermore, anyone who is aware of homosexual conduct and does not report it to police within twenty-four hours, faces three years in prison.  What’s more, if anyone is convicted of defending the rights of homosexuals, they face a seven year prison sentence.  Shall the bill pass, Uganda would sever all ties with countries that support GLBT rights.   Though the bill is not yet in its final stages of endorsement, it is proceeding quickly through legislation, and many top officials are giving it praise.  

Needless to say, the bill has raised much controversy, and many high-profile officials internationally are condemning it.  Public protests have already been spearheaded by state officials in Britain and Canada.  A Canadian spokesperson was quoted saying, “If adopted, a bill further criminalizing homosexuality would constitute a significant step backwards for the protection of human rights in Uganda.”  Former UN envoy on AIDS in Africa, Stephen Lewis, addressed the Commonwealth People’s Forum by saying, “Nothing is as stark, punitive and redolent of hate as the bill in Uganda.”  

While some people may claim that this bill stems from Christian ideals (approximately 85% of Uganda is Christian ), others reason that it is a dramatic, overreaching, irrational attempt at a solution to the AIDS epidemic that is so sadly rampant in Uganda.  Still, other people believe that it is just pure hate and the need to oppress that propels such outrageous legislation.  Couldn’t it be all of the above?  Couldn’t people’s naivety and fear evoke hate, which they try to camouflage with propagandized religious ideals and failed attempts to stop epidemics?  Really, the first two reasons are highly unfounded, though there is evidence that suggests that this legislation is tied to a United States Christian group.   Christianity, at its New Testament biblical roots, preaches against the death penalty and for forgiveness, though it has evolved greatly since the times of Christ (a man who surrounded himself with the social untouchables).  In fact, many Christian organizations have already spoken out against the bill.  Arguing biblical contexts is beyond the scope of this article, so we won’t get into whether the Bible says homosexuality is wrong or any of that; however, there are many things that the Bible claims are criminal that are NOT criminalized.  

For example, adultery—there was a time in Uganda when women were imprisoned for committing adultery.  However, in 2007, the Ugandan government overturned this law, claiming that it was “too sexist”.   Well, hurray for Uganda! It only took several decades and a team of balls-out female attorneys to teach you that one!  But wait… if Uganda is so worried about the spread of HIV and the dishonoring of God, wouldn’t it want to tighten the reins on sexual promiscuity, rather than loosen them?  It seems as though just making the penalty for male and female adulterers the same would have sufficed, but no.  That would mean that some pretty important straight men would be imprisoned.  So, instead, just lifting the criminalization of adultery altogether is best.  

The other prominent religion in the country is Islam—another religion that is rooted in peace, yet construed by powerful men to wreak havoc and terror.  Before the Anti-Homosexuality Bill hit Parliament, a prominent Ugandan Muslim leader demanded that the government round up all of the gays on an island to be left for dead.  “I asked President Museveni to get us an island on Lake Victoria and we take these homosexuals and they die out there,” Mubajje said. “If they die there then we shall have no more homosexuals in the country.”   Mubajje’s remark illustrates the attitude towards homosexuals, but does not necessarily give a reason, beyond mere prejudice.

The truth is discrimination against gays is not just a Christian thing; it’s not just a Muslim thing; and it’s not just a Uganda thing.  In fact, last year, the HRC uncovered evidence that Ugandan groups, that were violently protesting against gays and lesbians, were being funded by, who else, but the Bush administration.   Yep, good ole, “Dubya”. 

So, what about the AIDS epidemic?  Yes, it is a huge problem in Uganda.  Yes, something must be done about it.  But HIV is not just a “gay” problem, anymore.  Every three seconds a child dies in Africa from AIDS, and there are over eight million children who have lost parents to AIDS.    These children are not born to gay mothers and fathers who use cryobanks and surrogates.  They are born to straight, heterosexual women who do not have the proper health care, nourishment, and education to birth HIV-free babies.   If the purpose behind the death penalty being imposed on HIV positive homosexuals is to help stop the spread of HIV, then Uganda Parliament is in for a rude awakening. 

What about the real issues facing Uganda citizens and government right now—issues that actually affect the lives of its citizens—issues like poverty, lack of jobs, political conflict, ethnic tensions, property disputes, violence against women and children, HIV/AIDS, and rape—one of the leading attributes of the spread of HIV?  What about the consequences of a country completely cutting itself off from the entire westernized world (including its British big brother)  just because that world supports homosexuality?  Perhaps this whole legislation is just a political diversion?

There are no sound religious justifications for such absurdity; lifting the criminalization of adultery illustrates that crime’s purpose was not to alleviate HIV; and the majority of HIV people in Uganda are heterosexual.  So, then, why?  What is the purpose?  Pure hate? 

Poor legislation can be amended.  Epidemics can be slowed.  Health care can be provided.  The poor can be fed.  The uneducated can be taught.  But how do you fix hate?

1 Solome Nakaweesi-Kimbugwe and Frank Mugisha. Uganda:  Bahati's Bill - a Convenient Distraction for Country's Government. October 16, 2009. http://allafrica.com/stories/200910161126.html   Accessed November 30, 2009
2 Webster, Phillip.  Uganda Proposes Death Penalty for HIV Positive Gays. The Times, UK. November 28, 2009. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article6935558.ece Accessed November 30, 2009
3 Supra.
4 2002 Uganda Population and Housing Census - Main Report" (PDF). Uganda Bureau of Statistics. http://www.ubos.org/onlinefiles/uploads/ubos/pdf%20documents/2002%20Census%20Final%20Reportdoc.pdf. Accessed November 30, 2009
5 Charles Lemos. Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill Linked to US Christian Group.  November 28, 2009. http://www.mydd.com/story/2009/11/28/43532/567  Accessed November 30, 2009
6 Ugandan adultery law 'too sexist’. BBC News: Africa. April 5, 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6528869.stm Accessed November 30, 2009
7 365gay Newscenter Staff. Uganda to Tighten Law Against Homosexuality. October 6, 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6528869.stm Accessed November 30, 2009
8 Supra.
9 Extreme Poverty in Africa. Cozay Africa. http://cozay.com/   Accessed November 30, 2009
10 Supra.
11 The Government of Uganda. 2004. http://www.statehouse.go.ug/government.htm  Accessed November 30, 2009.  (Uganda just got its independence from British rule in 1962, and Ugandan officials still frequently hear the advice of British officials.)
12 The Government of Uganda. 2004. http://www.statehouse.go.ug/government.htm  Accessed November 30, 2009.  (Uganda just got its independence from British rule in 1962, and Ugandan officials still frequently hear the advice of British officials.)
 

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