truth of the matter about gay and lesbian ugandans and the politics of pretence

An Opinion by Victor Juliet Mukasa

July 12, 2005: Kampala - An old saying goes, "Some things are better left unsaid!", but Uganda has taken it too far as far as homosexuals are concerned. Time after time, the gay community in Uganda has been harassed, ignored and even their status/presence declared null and void. Whoever does this forgets that these gay people are/might be their sons, daughters, siblings, parents, friends and so forth.

Many Ugandans have taken the gay issue as a moral, cultural, religious �issue. My thinking is that they are wrong. Gone are the days when people fought against homosexuality because it is sinful, immoral, against African norms, illegal, name it.
Why? Because homosexuality is a reality here in Uganda. Homosexuals, who are even willing to be counted, really exist in the Pearl of Africa.

Just a few days ago, our esteemed representatives in the August House (Parliament of Uganda) voted in favour of new homophobic laws. These are our representatives from the different constituencies. This is funny because the honourables have forgotten that they are there to represent the people. Again they have forgotten that they have made laws tougher for their own children. They have not put into consideration the fact that these people are real and exist in their constituencies. They have forgotten that they are putting to death their own people who voted them to the August House.

For you who is reading, the truth/fact is that they are more homosexuals in Uganda than you can imagine. The number cannot be ignored. These honourables are putting to death their own as if they have killed or stolen from anyone. Many of these gays are right thinking and responsible members of society. Some are even in Government. So why punish these good citizens just because they are them? Why not make laws for wrong doers like thieves, murderers �tougher because they harm others.

In this case anyone caught in the wrong, homosexual or heterosexual deserves tough punishment. Alternatively, why not deal with the rebel Kony in the North who is taking thousands of lives every week? Really let us talk about these things.

When it comes to HIV/AIDS, Uganda is continuing what it does best, 'Politics of Pretence'. This is one of my Governments best games. HIV is a worldwide disaster and incidentally Uganda is praised by outsiders for being a lion in the fight against the scourge. Bravo! Bravo! It is true that Uganda is a lion in discriminating against its peoples in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

I am not a scientist nor have I read a lot about epidemics. But at least I know one thing for sure that in order to fight an epidemic, all corners of the population have to be protected or else it comes back to the protected ones from the unprotected lot. So whether gay or 'straight' ALL have to be catered for given the fact that there are even bisexuals in our communities.

Simple logic.

So Uganda, whose leaders are not even imbeciles cannot see this? Surprise! When the Uganda AIDS Policy was being drafted, sexual minorities where provided for. But to my horror, in the final document of the Uganda AIDS Policy, sexual minorities where scraped out. Again Uganda with her politics of pretence got at it. The frames of this policy looked at the so called immorality of homosexuals forgetting that this is a reality. A reality that gay people exist and that the presence of HIV in their communities affects all Ugandans. We surely need to talk about these issues.

Government of Uganda is not the only player of the pretence game in Uganda. The civil society too does. NGOs that claim to defend human rights do. Even the biggest defender of human rights, the Uganda Human Rights Commission does. Shame. These are people who travel all over the world lying to nations about their good work at human rights. I know of many who claim that they defend the rights of homosexuals. Liars they are and I can be held for this.

During the 'Get on Board" campaign against poverty, a disease that is eating up many Ugandans, Action Aid International Uganda Chapter ,the organisers of the campaign invited the entire public to the Constitutional Square to hand in their messages to the G8. These messages protesting poverty are being reviewed by the G8 in Scotland. All NGOs where invited, Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG) inclusive. They were all allowed to display posters protesting poverty which SMUG did. However, to my surprise, SMUG was expelled from the grounds and their fliers destroyed by officials of Action Aid claiming that SMUG was not allowed to be there and that SMUGs presence might lead to the termination of Action Aid's license to operate since they are illegal.

Surprising once again, because as a community that is discriminated against, SMUG and many homosexuals are poor because of lack of employment. SMUG was in the right place, at the right time for the right purpose but was chased away because they are 'illegal' and immoral, mores so by a human rights group. One of many who claim to support all rights gay rights inclusive. Pretence! Pretence! Pretence!

So why remain silent about the plight of our brothers and sisters who have no defence at all?

My sexual orientation is not an issue but the fact that am a responsible Ugandan does not allow me to remain silent about certain issues concerning the suffering of homosexuals in Uganda. Hate speech directed towards gay people here is not a new phenomenon, but I feel enough is enough. Politicians and clerics alike have been very vocal in spreading hatred of homosexuals in Uganda hence catalysing deep animosity and hatred from their heterosexual counterparts. Cases in study are the Honourable Minister of Information, Nsaba Buturo and a very highly respected Born Again Pastor, Sempa who never cease to spread anti-gay propaganda whenever they chance arises.

For prominent people like them to bend low and start uttering such homophobic statements on national media is more or less hitting gays below the belt. The Minister is a good pretender who makes the gay issue more horrible than the massacres in Northern Uganda. The pastor is another pretender who pretends to spread love meanwhile promoting the devil's work of dividing people. This is disgusting. Some of us cannot remain silent about these issues. Someone come to the rescue of our brothers and sisters.

On top of all that, the government, through her agencies continues to torture and harass homosexuals without anyone raising a finger. On the 1st of May 2005, for example, SMUG was supposed to go on air on KFM radio station to discuss HIV/AIDS and how it affects the gay community, but 5 minutes prior to the commencement of the show the Broadcast Council called the studio and threatened the management of K FM with closure if they hosted SMUG on the air waves.

I understand in the name of protecting the public from listening to pornographic material. Pretence! As if they don't know that there are gay people here and that they too may have issues to talk about. SMUG deserved to be at the show at least to create minimal understanding. They were shut up. So should we remain silent?
The media has proved to be a growing thorn in the side of the gay community. The press is having a field day in the name of exposing gay people and unearthing their activities. 'The Mirror" which is known for its hardcore and sleazy pornographic articles is one of the gutter press that have even gone to the extent of publishing names of alleged homosexuals without even thinking twice. This has adversely affected the people who are named since their names and places of work and families are mentioned. But why infringe on the rights of citizens and cause stress and emotional scars that will take long to heal?

I call this inhuman and beastly. Something surely needs to be done about this horrible press who PRETEND to be discipliners yet destroyers. Some of us will not remain silent.

The truth of the matter is that this is real and gay people exist here in Uganda and there is no need to pretend about this. It is no longer about immorality or any other issue, but about the fact that there are gay people in this country. Stop discriminating against them and treating them like a wound in a private part. Just like heterosexuals hey should have their rights and be able to exercise them fully without misgivings or fear.