MILLION MEN MARCH AGAINST HOMOSEXUALITY IN UGANDA

By Simangele Mzizi (BTM intern)

UGANDA – 19 January 2010: Anti-gay Pastor Martin Ssempa will be spearheading a million-man march on 17 February, in support of the proposed Anti Homosexuality Bill, an event he says will give Ugandans a chance to show how they feel about homosexuality.

Ssempa maintains that homosexuality is illegal, breaks the laws of God and that it breaks the laws of nature which stipulate that a male goes with a female.

“It [homosexuality] breaks the laws of our culture and tradition as Africans and it’s a taboo”, he adds.

Asked to comment on President Yoweri Museveni’s statement cautioning those advocating for the Bill to “go slow” and allow for further consultation Ssempa said, “The president has challenged us on how we feel about homosexuality and this march will give Ugandans a chance to show how they feel.”

In addition, Edward Ssekandi, Uganda’s parliamentary speaker reportedly stated that there is no way Ugandans can be intimidated by remarks from the President to stop this bill.

Meanwhile Kasha Jacqueline, Director for Freedom and Roam Uganda states that the gay community in Uganda is “very much aware” of the million man march and that individual safety is a priority at present as they [members of the gay community] do not want to be harmed or abused during this time.

 “It is frightening that millions of people are willing to leave their jobs to protests about what other people do in their bedrooms and private lives, instead of focusing on more important issues, but on a positive note this shows that people are listening to our issues and if it wasn’t for the advocacy around this Bill there wouldn’t be even these kind of talks around”, she added.

Emily Craven of the Joint Working Group believes “it is disappointing that Museveni is not calling for the Bill to be dropped but rather talking from an economic point of view instead of the human rights point of view.”

“We want a tougher stance saying that the Bill is morally wrong, it’s good that he is feeling the pressure, it shows the power of activism which took place around the Bill”, Craven adds.

Ssempa had earlier said that the bill was written to meet specific challenges and make equal protection provisions.

“We want the bill to pass but with certain amendments, what we need is equal punishment for homosexuals and heterosexuals”, he said.

Uganda’s National Pastors Task Force Against Homosexuality, chaired by Ssempa has resolved to support the Bill with amendments that include reduction of the sentence from death penalty to 20 years for aggravated homosexuality and the inclusion of a provision of “counselling and rehabilitation  [by the church] to persons experiencing homosexual temptations.”

The taskforce represents The National Fellowship of Born again Churches, The Seventh Adventists Church, The Uganda Joint Christian Council which also represents the Orthodox Church in Uganda and The Roman Catholic Church in Uganda.