YOUR LETTERS: Death for gays is an overkill Print E-mail
Letters
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Sunday, 08 November 2009 19:02

While I abhor homosexuality, I believe it is not only irresponsible but extremely stupid to hand down a death sentence on actively gay people. Our African leaders will place a treason charge on a person who fairly competes for state power against them in an election!


Remember that the punishment for a treason sentence is death! You want to give these would be killers in government another tool to attempt to kill their opponents with? You are not killing rapists or murderers who kill their political opponents in broad daylight, like what happened at Bulange, but you want to kill people who have voluntarily agreed to disgrace themselves in the privacy of their rooms?! What about the politicians who are publicly disgracing themselves everyday? I believe it’s more shameful and deserving of death to take five million shillings to sell out your country than to voluntarily engage in homosexuality.

Paget Kintu.
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Baryamureeba, you are a Godsend

The appointment of Prof. Venasius Baryamureeba as the new Vice Chancellor of Makerere University can be compared to the biblical rain that fell after a long period of drought in Israel. Prophet Elijah, a servant of God, had evidence enough to prove to the Baal (idol) worshippers of the wonders of God.

Likewise, I welcomed the professor’s appointment which I had already anticipated. God answered my prayers. I would however like to call your attention to the grievances put forward by the private students who had their tuition unfairly increased by 40%, sparking off strikes. Rather than keep a hostile environment at this prestigious centre of learning, I request that you consider these grievances and offer a lasting solution. We believe you have the capacity to change the state of affairs, a belief the council also held.

To add salt to the injury, the respective faculties at Makerere demand that students pay 100% instead of the stipulated 60%! Most disturbing was asking the freshers to pay internship fees in the first semester of the first year yet such an activity hardly takes place until one is in the third year at university!

One could not access registration forms without proof of payment to this effect. This was the most inconveniencing of all, especially for those who had already settled in their halls and hostels of residence. This has been overlooked as a minor occurrence but can steadily shred the “Harvard of Africa” to tatters even as it struggles to regain its lost glory.

Allan Ssempebwa K.,
Makerere University.


Let's stand up to homosexuality


Two recent stories concerning the campaign against homosexuality serve as an encouraging reminder that while much of the world appears to have lost its moral compass, we Ugandans are willing to stand firm in defence of our time-honoured cultural heritage.

At a time when homosexuality and other unnatural forms of sexual behaviour are being re-packaged as “normal”, it’s refreshing to see pastors like Martin Sempa, Steven Langa, and Michael Kyazze, as well as MPs like David Bahati and Benson Obua, reject the pretence that deviant conduct can be socially acceptable. As Dr. Nsaba Buturo, the Minister of Ethics put it, let those who claim that homosexuality is normal start by showing us a single biological being (human or otherwise) that is the product of a homosexual union.

Fellow Ugandans, moral compromise is a very slippery slope and if we allow ourselves to be swayed by a pro-gay media campaign which brands anyone who rejects homosexuality as a “homophobe”, then very soon those who reject rape, paedophilia, and other perversions will also be branded outcasts.

The ongoing debate on the Anti-homosexuality Bill is therefore a momentous occasion to chart our collective moral future and it’s important that our MPs be reminded just how far-reaching the implications of their votes will be. Their decision will shape the social environment that their children and grand-children will inherit.

Waiswa Magoola,
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I wasn't impressed by the Northern By-pass

I was little impressed by the much hyped Kampala Northern By-pass. It is the only road in Uganda that looks like a rural highway in America. Despite being completed years behind schedule, it still does not look complete.

Apart from the speed limit signs (which are never adhered to on the only smooth road in the country), you must be a native to know which junction takes you where, since there are no direction signs at all. Ramps are already being eroded since no grass was planted to protect them from erosion.

Slow moving motorists drive in the speed lane and other crazy drivers use both lanes of the road as if to send a signal that no one should overtake! I hope the Southern By-pass will be better planned. Transport Minister John Nasasira has presided over decades of poor road networks and where he tries to do some work there are always signs like: “Slow men at work”.

Little wonder then that the Kampala-Masaka-Mbarara road may take forever. It is a shame to see people on such projects using more hand tools than machines!
In a word, the only thing I loved about Uganda on my last trip is its beautiful name!

Henry F. Mulindwa,
USA.


NAADS hotlines were promoted on radios

This is in reference to a letter that ran in The Observer of November 5th – 8th 2009, regarding popularisation of the NAADS Hotlines. We would like to thank Mr. James Mwesigwa for the advice but also inform him that the hotlines were actually popularised on national and regional radio stations as prime time adverts.

The radio stations were identified in close consultation with the Uganda Media Centre and these include: Radio Pacis, Radio West, Bunyoro Broadcasting Services, Super FM, Voice of Teso, Voice of Busoga, Radio One, Rhino FM and Capital Radio, among others.

This was aimed at creating awareness and encouraging the public to utilise them in bringing issues to the attention of the authorities for necessary action.

NAADS is also in the process of acquiring toll-free lines which will also be popularised using all means available to us including regional and national radio stations. The Secretariat is currently taking appropriate action through the various government structures. We thank the public for the overwhelming response.        


Alyce Nakagwa,
Information and Communication Officer/PRO,
NAADS Secretariat.

Investigate localised power shortages

I call upon government to investigate allegations that some UMEME staff intentionally create power shortages in order to extort money from their clients. I had for long disregarded such allegations but my experience with UMEME over the last two months has wiped away any doubts.

Since September, I believe I’ve called UMEME over 20 times complaining about disrupted power supply in my area. My area in Kitintale, opposite National Water and Sewerage Corporation offices, has regular power disruptions which don’t usually affect our neighbours.

Each time I have called UMEME, I have always been told that they are sending their staff to restore the power. The power then hardly lasts two weeks before we go back to the status quo for another two or three days consecutively!

This makes me wonder why tax payers should continue paying UMEME and a multiplicity of companies in the power ‘supply’ business. Now I fully believe reports that some UMEME staff purposely create power shortages so as to extort money from unsuspecting clients who always call them to restore it at a cost.

I also think some of us are being punished for using the ‘wrong’ procedures of religiously reporting power disruptions to UMEME’s Call Centre.   Any government sensitive to the cries of its people should investigate such claims and bring the culprits to book because UMEME is not doing us a favour.

Michael M.
0782-423191      


God must have saved you for a purpose

While hosting journalists at his home recently, Prof. Latigo wondered “I don’t know what to pay God”. I too can’t explain how one could have come out of such wreckage except to agree with him that it was a miracle. Professor, God must have saved you for a purpose. Nothing takes God by surprise.

There’s nothing we can pay God for the good He does to us except to obey, serve and love Him (Job 36:11).

Give your life to Him and accept Jesus Christ as Lord and saviour of your life (Rom 10:9-10, John 1:12).
I pray that God restores your health and I am sure He will. I love your commitment to bringing political and institutional sanity to this country.  

Moses Erongot,
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Comments (4)add comment
...
written by Jason , November 09, 2009

You create the society you live in, If you want to live in a society where homosexuals are sentanced to death then go right ahead and support the bill, just don't moan if you end up in hell for supporting legalised killings.


The anti-homosexual bill, a disgrace to me as a christian.
written by John M , November 09, 2009

I have watched on in horror my church leaders (Anglican) endorsed the anti-gay bill but are opposed to the death penalty.

I can't believe that our pastoral mentors who are always stressing that we are all sinners, and that we should forgive fellow sinners could agree to such a hate-filled law.

As I boy we grew up being told wonderful bible stories and the more interesting and captivating, the ones my LORD and SAVIOUR told in parables.

One is poignant, the stoning of the adultress, and Jesus's assertion, that the non-sinners were the only ones qualified to throw even one stone at her. Jesus was sinless and so was entitled by his statement to throw a tempest of stones at her first, and then the angry mob next, but he didn't.

He then set the standard that even though you think you are sinless, neither should you cast the stone. The church has fallen right into the trap, churches in Europe did, associating themselves with the state. This association will blur where the state begins and the churh ends.

Hence the failings of the state will be construed to be the failings of the church and this will in turn lead to lack of trust or confidence in our faith leaders, and by extension in the wonderful faith, we have began a journey that will lead us to the european situation where spirituality is vitrually dead.

The church in essence by supporting this law has started to categorise sin into different tiers. I have not seen any concerted effort by the church to increase punitive measures for corruption, torture and unlawful detention etc

It creates a perception you can do the above and get scot free, a small sentence but God forbid if you are gay, only your life will do. I consider engaging in homosexual sex as a sin, but it's not the first of all sin, neither the last, SIN is SIN.

I can not trust politicians nor government as custodians of morality one bit and doing so will be laughable, giving them such wide ranging discretion and power will only lead to it's abuse. A crime that is next to impossible to prove, is the easiest to abuse, and is one which should not have such punitive punishment.

Wait when opponents of this government start being indicted in court with shady witnesses, and their fortunes are left to the mercy of the court, it's one's word against the other and so, the verdict of guilty or innocent will be 50/50 irrespective of guilt or innocence of the accused.

Even pastors have taken to accusing each other of homosexuality) I am also dissapointed that we Ugandans can have an uproar against actions of two consenting adults, but will not so much as make a whisper when officials steal our funds even those meant to save lives, what bigotry and hypocrisy!

I for one will stick to my LORD and SAVIOUR for guidance by:-
1.Loving God with all my strength, heart and soul.
2. Loving my neighbour as I love myself.
Only through this will I not unwittingly become a pharisee.


You are right
written by Henry F Mulindwa , November 09, 2009

John M, I know you and you are totally right here. IN my opinion it is good not to encourage homosexuality but to put to death homosexuals is unacceptable to me too.

However, the law would be equal and just if a gay person as well as a"straight" person who lures a minor into the act is given the same punishment. A gay or straight person who deliberately infects another with HIV should suffer the same concequences under the law


burden of proof
written by John M , November 10, 2009

Henry F Mulindwa,I have no qualms against jailing people for defilement,whether homo/heterosexual.The law against willful HIV infection of another has good intentions.

But how does one prove one has not done so unwittingly/unknowingly. Does this bill also require everyone in Uganda to undergo mandatory testing for H.I.V everyday and be told of his status,

furthermore, those who are positive be put on a national registry accessible by all such that that you can engage in unprotected sex knowing both yours and your partner's serostatus? It brings up more complications that we can not ensure and instead erode on our rights.

Just like the anti-gay bill. how shall we prove someone's gay, that someone has engaged in homosexual sex? does the bill have a provision for CCTV cameras in all bedrooms and all rooms for that matter? how shall we prove someone is "recruiting" others into the practice o? what shall we do for two minors engaged in consensual sex? Such laws are very dangerous precisely because of the potential for abuse.



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