EDITORIAL: Anti-gay Bill is not helpful Print E-mail
Editorial
Written by Editorial   
Wednesday, 04 November 2009 21:38

The Anti-Homosexuality Bill, now commonly known as ‘Bahati Bill’, would be oppressive and brutal if passed into law by Parliament, and assented to by the President.The Bill, vigorously promoted by Ndorwa West MP, David Bahati, seems to be putting homosexuality at the same level as murder and treason, which is preposterous.

True, the state has a role to play in promoting public morality and the laws on prostitution, bestiality and incest, among others, are in place largely because of this.

But Bahati’s approach to homosexuality is largely radical and seems to be informed by personal aversion towards gay sex. It’s particularly disturbing when the Bill seeks to make every citizen spy on the other and thereby intrude into other people’s privacy.

He wants everyone who gets to know about an individual’s homosexual orientation, including his or her parents, other family members, medical workers, religious leaders and school authorities, to report to the Police.

If homosexuality is a social deviance, as some scholars have chosen to categorise it, and it can be redeemed with counseling of the culprits, why then punish those who seek to correct this anomaly through psychological means?

Moreover, this Bill does not give room for rehabilitation; it focuses on punitive action alone. And the punishments also come very stiff, including the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality.” But like experience has shown with crimes such as murder and treason, the death penalty has not succeeded in deterring the perpetrators.

Besides, homosexuality is already prohibited under Uganda’s laws. Why is another law so important at this point? How many Ugandans have ever come across a homosexual or lesbian for this to become such a serious matter that must be stopped at all costs, even if it means through draconian legislation?

Having a different moral view is not good enough reason for Parliament to enact laws that are unconstitutional and violate people’s rights to privacy, freedom of speech and expression.

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Comments (8)add comment
Nonsense!
written by Tony , November 05, 2009

I think these MP's just cary the name but lack the understanding of their role in furthering the development of a state.

why should a whole parliament waste time on an anti gay bill? what threat do gays pose to society? is being gay more disastrous than the stealing of public funds which denies communities access to health care, transport, food security etc? or is it more dangerous than turning parliament a tool of the president incapable of doing its oversight role.

How about the dangers of militarising the police? the list is long.Ugandans must grow up especialy the briefcase politicians, and stop pretending that they are a very religious nation whereas experience shows its a country of con men & women.

even the many pastors that have mushromed have nothing to do with religion. its all about money making. instead of wasting time on gays i advise he looks into how to regulate corruption & the many thieving pastors hiding under the guise of religion.


Editorial, be BOLD!!!
written by Pal , November 05, 2009

I applaud your paper for challenging this Bogus bill in your editorial. I however disagree with the apologetic way you presented your point of view. Ugandans need to be educated that being gay is nobody's falt and it is not abnormal. So being gay should not be said in the same breath with bestiality, prostitution, murder, rape pedoplia and others. Those crimes but being gay is not by choice and to me not a crime. We should be discussing the current descriminatory law that criminalises homosexuality.
Again, saying that homosexuality is a disease that can be cured even though your voice distances itself from this view is also absurd. Psychologists have tried and failed. Homosexuality is not a disorder. It is natural to people. can I mention now that homosexuality is as old as mankind? All civilizations tried and failed to stop homosexuality because it is not a disease but just as natural as hteresexuality.
can I now say that Bahati should now table a bill against those who stole CHOGM money? How many malaria, HIV, would have been saved by that money. Bahati, those are the abnormal guys. Go for them and I will support you.


Bravo Parliament
written by Eric L , November 05, 2009

For once this year,Parliament has excited me.

I mean beat homosexuality right from the word go so that its ugly head never sees day light again.


TONY: YOU'RE ENGAGING IN HOCUS POCUS.
written by DAVID , November 05, 2009

Its absurd that some gay apologists like Tony have the audacity to castigate and denigrate the MPs for playing one of their noble roles of promoting good morals suitable for our African societies by advocating for anti-gay legislation.

Me think that such fellas may either be the culprits(read gays trying to divert the legislators) or gay "promoters" whose cardinal aim is to earn quick dime from the west so as to foster the infiltration of their evil activity into our social strata thereby bastardising the morals of our folks.

Yes,corruption which enshrines embezzlement, shoddy work,cronyism etc is disastrous for the country and thus should be abhored and adequately addressed which is otherwise being currently done,but this fella ignores the fact that gayism and lesbianism are also part and parcel of moral corruption which in the same development also needs to be addressed!!!!.

The earlier the legislation,the better because gays and their lesbian counterparts are indeed worse than pigs and dogs,since the duo latter don't even practise such sub-human acts!!!!!

For these diversionists,in the event that the government was to give green-light to the gay activities(which is otherwise unlikely),they would have mouthed how the government is trying to endear itself with the western world so as to white-wash its ills.

Now that the heat has been turned onto them and their sponsors,its indeed time for yelling,ranting and raving.

Thus,when armed with gayism/lesbianism,in addition to their inherent anti-government sentiments,such fellas use the former as a tool of acquiring asylum in the west by hoodwinking the bazungus so as to have a share of the crumbs of the latters' benefit system.

The onus now is upon the MPs to ignore these devil's advocates and stick to their guns of promoting this bill,come what may.


David you
written by Tony , November 06, 2009

David, mine was very simple. legislators have to get their priorities right. there is too much going on the country affecting peoples' welfare and parliament is just cheering on the govt not doing anything to arrest it excesses which affect our people.

can you tell me who and how gaysim is adversely affecting ugandans as a population or yourself in particular visa vie how mismanegement , corruption , cryonism etc. at the smae time i would have expected a person like you or the legislator you are defending to understand that being gay is not by ones' choice its something inborn at least for the majority.

also you need to appreciate that its anybody's right to choose how to live his/her sexaul life as long thwe two involved have consented. do you mean you would prefer a rapist to a gay person who have consented to be in a relation with a partener?

if you are so much concerned about gay why dont you also introduce a bill outlawing rape? because they both represent abnormal sexual behaviour.

instead of criminalisins gaysim, bahati should be advocating for govt to provide a free counseling center for people with abnormal sexual behaviuour including gays who need to be helped . but not just coming up with this idiotic and village mentality about gays.

i don’t expect it from someone with at least A level certificate. i would think it was the very reason why we have this minimum qualification to ensure people debate with a difference.

To tell you the truth uganda has no parliament i dont know what to call it either!

I still believe this bill is unnecessary because it infringes on peoples rights hence against the Ugandan constitution. You may brand me a gay’ or whatever.

even if I were its not as criminal as one embezzling public funds or geting a salary out of public funds for merely defending the undependable & entrenching a dictatorship by taking advantage of the ignorant masses. to me you and your likes behaviour is treasonable case.

Meanwhile many children and adults die of malaria & other curable diseases to which this stolen & misappropriated funds would have gone to alleviate the dire situation.



dr
written by Robert kelem , November 07, 2009

the bill should be passed and we move on to other pressing issues but again our parliament cant be relied on to do anything of substance. Look at their record:-

5M and u extend the presidential term limits, Mbabazi is put off the hook thru some cocus and stupid "legeal" procedures, and all the commissions of inquiry are for window dressing.


TONY: LEARN HOW PARLIAMENT WORKS.
written by DAVID , November 07, 2009

By assumption that you're educated,i thought that you're aware that the parliament is omnicompetent,in otherwords,its able to deal with various matters.

The parliament is divided into various committees that are tasked to do various roles eg PAC,Legal and Parliamentary Affairs' Committee,Tourism,Trade and Industry Committee etc.

Now,do you expect the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee(of Bahati) to performance the role(s) of the PAC(of Nandala Mafabi)???,wouldn't that be duplication of roles????

Do you expect the Bahati committee to hijack the Reagan Okumu Committee(Statutory Authorities and state enterprises)???,again wouldn't that be duplication of roles???,yet you're the very people who're fond of making noise about institutions duplicating roles????.

By the way,are you aware of the roles of these various committees before you continue castigating parliament over your fatuous issues????

Aren't you aware that Bahati's committee is the one responsible for discussing bills one of which that of homosexuality is also enshrined???,did you expect him to go for the CHOGM probe,wouldn't that be duplication of the PAC(of Nandala Mafabi) roles????

Since you're in the diaspora and that you're still behind the times,i need to inform you that homosexuality is an urgent issue that is gradually penetrating our Ugandan societies especially through the single sex schools and even through the mushrooming "churches".

If you really don't have any vested interests in it or that you're not part of them(gays),just shut up.You don't need to go for the throats of the MPs who are rather concerned and doing their roles.

By the way,aren't they parents???,its a pity that moreover you who purports to be promoting Ganda "nationalism" and culture you're instead the one covering up these uncouth acts,its indeed an irony!!!!,maybe the Ganda card comes in during your futile anti-M7 battles for cheap political capital.

You're like a shiek who goes to lead prayers in the mosque and in the thick of darkness,he goes to the pork joint to enjoy pork while watering it down with a glass of waragi!!!!

By virtue of the fact that either you or your preferences were shunned at the polls,this doesn't mean the Uganda's parliament is a sham.Its high time that you learn to respect the majority's decision however much you hate or envy it.

You and your think alikes indeed behave like parents who continously regard MUK babes as prostitutes because their daughters failed to intellectually make it to the Ivory Tower!!!!,come to talk of jealousness(read enugu).


TONY: GET YOUR
written by DAVID , November 07, 2009

The is already an existing legal frame-work against rape and that is the Penal Code but this is silent on such obtuse behaviour like bestiality,homosexuality,gaying and even incest.

With plane commonsense,one can be able to see that such behaviour(like gayism) undermines our indegenous(African) morals,religious beliefs,degrades humanity and even catalyses the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Since incest,bestiality,gayism don't adversely affect the population(as you think),should they all be overlooked and instead wait for the abnormalities that are associated with them to prevail and then the entire community plus the MPs start planning for the solution???

We are thus ready to fight had in a bid to avert the westernisation of our socities with uncultivated practises that tend to erode our human dignity and thus pray that Bahati doesn't give in to the demands of these sodomites trying to derail him from straightening the morals of the unsuspecting Ugandans thanks to his advocacy of the anti-gay legislation.

Since its anybody's choice to decide on how to live(a human right as per your reasoning),should such wierd practises like incest be promoted as the participants may have decided to live that way????



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