It was supposed to be a million-man march, but it ended up as a church service for 500. This was the anti-climax of a much-hyped anti-gay demonstration in Uganda’s capital Kampala on Wednesday.
A report from our correspondent David Rupiny
A bill before the Ugandan parliament, which has drawn international condemnation, including from the Netherlands, proposes the death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality", which the bill defines as having sex while HIV-positive.
The Ugandan police refused to permit the demonstration fearing it would disrupt public order. The demonstrators, numbering about 500, then occupied a makeshift church in Kampala’s biggest slum, Kisenyi, making it more of a church service than a demonstration.
Chants, ululations, clapping, and the sound of a trumpet punctuated the tough speeches by the leaders. Conspicuously present were American clerics. They brandished placards that read: Barack Obama Back Off, Homosexuality is Evil.
Anti-gay book for Obama
MP David Bahati, author of the bill, said that it is intended to protect the African family. The public hearing starts in early March and is expected to be passed mid-month. The MP softened his previously hard stance on the death penalty, saying the sentence should be left for the parliament to decide. Pastor Martin Sempa, a leading anti-gay activist, said they are mobilising a million signatures for an anti-gay petition to be sent to US President Barack Obama.
Churches have reservations
Both Catholic and Anglican Churches have reservations about the bill, especially on the proposed death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality". The churches instead want the provisions in the Penal Code on homosexuality amended.
The bill can at best be considered a nonstarter. If passed, it will be a much watered-down version. The president may also take his time to give his assent to it. With Uganda’s reputation as a country that passes many laws but without implementation, it may as well remain a paper tiger.
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The Lord made us all including homosexuals. Gay people are usually more caring than their straight counterparts. WHAT ON EARTH IS ALL THIS FUSS ABOUT ??? !!! . Let every person live their own life as they want to. Being anti gay is un-Christian and should be frowned upon. "Gay" is not something from Europe it is universal. Kinsey, an American researcher told us that 10 - 15% of the world population is gay. Just think about it. In EVERY large family there is usually someone who is gay. Look around you and be more loving and caring. Are you aware of the fact that Aids is more prevalent in the straight society than amongst the gay society ? Stop this witchhunt and be the lovely nation that you are. Please live up to your name of "The Pearl of Africa". Use your time and energy to make Uganda a prosperous nation.
You are both wrong & not very Christian/Muslim in your attitudes toward the gay citizens of Uganda & the world. I seriously doubt that Jesus/Allah would actually condone your hateful words and despicable actions. Shame on both of you! There's a special place in Hell reserved for "people" like you, but you show yourselves to be no better than animals when you actively support the murder of innocent people! Homosexuality is as much an African situation as a European one because it's a human condition. You've forgotten that Africans learned the hatred, not the behavior from the European "Christians" who colonized Africa. Read actual history & stop isolating Africa from the West & the rest of the civilized world any further with your primitive, uneducated and abominable beliefs. Oh, more heterosexual people have died from AIDS worldwide, than gay people. Get your facts "straight"!
Just to correct your pro-gay and biased article....The demonstration in Kampala against Sodomy was postponed..., it did not flop.....It was postponed by both the organizers and the police to enable
them to organize logistics.
Another coordinated demonstration took place in a smaller town of Jinja attracted over 4000 people not 500 as your article misinforms.
Ugandans are overwhelmingly united against Sodomy
"Ugandans are overwhelmingly united against Sodomy"........Okocha, Ugandans are right to protest a sexual acitivity that has destroyed the lives of millions of people aroud the world via HIV.
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