Ogwal asks African MPs to reject homosexuality

The Leader of Uganda’s delegation to the Pan African Parliament (PAP), Cecilia Atim Ogwal (Dokolo woman MP), has asked African legislators to reject the classification of homosexuality as a human right. Addressing the Global African Diaspora Parliamentarians Summit in Midrand, South Africa, Wednesday, Ogwal said homosexuality is foreign and is against African cultures.

“Practices that are against African cultures are now classified as human rights. I am forced [by Western countries] to accept homosexuality. That is wrong and should be condemned; it cannot be accepted,” Ogwal said.

She was contributing to a presentation by Trusty Gina, chairperson of the PAP committee on Education, Culture, Tourism and Human Resources, on ‘African Diaspora: Education and Culture’.

The Summit brings together Africans living in the Diaspora to discuss with African legislators. The African Union defines an African Diaspora as “[consisting] of people of African origin living outside the continent, irrespective of their citizenship and nationality, and who are willing to contribute to the development of the continent and the building of the African Union.

“I swore by the Bible five times in the Parliament of Uganda and at this Pan African Parliament. Homosexuality and lesbianism are alien to Africa and are considered witchcraft,” Ogwal said.

She said the western world now rejects polygamy, which is acceptable and has been part of African cultures over the years. Ogwal asked Africans in the Diaspora to help Africans improve education of the girl child, in order to improve the quality of leadership on the continent.

She also prayed that Africans in the Diaspora find ways to create jobs for the rising number of unemployed youth in Africa. In her presentation, Trusty Gina said some Africans were forced to leave their countries, while others left on their own volition.

“Since slavery was abolished, a number of Africans have continued to leave Africa and go to the other continents voluntarily and by choice. This happens because of the prevailing push factors (that force people to leave) and pull factors (incentives to persons to leave),” she said.

Gina added that African governments now realize the potential of people in the Diaspora in the development of their countries through several ways, including knowledge and technology transfer, as well as building capacity of individuals, organizations and institutions in their homelands and on the continent.

Legislators recommended the setting up of an African Diaspora Centre to coordinate the contribution of Africans in the Diaspora towards development of the continent.

newseditor@observer.ug