By George Murumba

25^th June 2012:

Responding to growing international criticism of its anti-gay efforts, the government of Uganda said in a statement on Friday last week that it does not discriminate against people “of a different sexual orientation.”

“No government official is (supposed) to harass any section of the community and everybody in Uganda enjoys the freedom to lawfully assemble and associate freely with others,” said the statement signed by Ethics and Integrity Minister Mr Simon Lokodo.

A source in government who preferred anonymity however told Uganda Correspondent that Lokodo had been forced to “own” a statement which he had not authored.  “You could clearly see that he was sliding into issues of public morality and thumping his chest to the media about it,” the official said of Lokodo.

Last week, gay activists in Uganda and abroad accused Ethics Minister Lokodo of “orchestrating a hate campaign” that they said included breaking up of gay conferences, and threatening to expel civil society groups that he accused of promoting homosexuality in Uganda.

This is the first time the government is making a statement that appears to recognize the rights of gay people in Uganda, where most homosexuals remain closeted for fear of attacks, and it seemed to take even the activists by surprise.

“…I think we have really challenged Lokodo now, as this statement shows,” said Frank Mugisha, a prominent gay activist. “He is facing the pressure.”

Homosexuality is illegal under Uganda’s penal code, and in 2009, NRM Member of Parliament David Bahati introduced a bill that proposed the death penalty for what he called “aggravated homosexuality.”  Bahati said homosexuals deserve to die for recruiting young, impoverished children into gay culture with money and the promise of a better life.

Bahati’s Bill has since been shelved, largely because President Museveni said it was hurting the country’s image internationally – especially after it was roundly condemned as “odious” by the ultra-liberal US President Barack Obama.

The Bill is, however, still popular among local Anglican and Pentecostal clerics.  Some recently petitioned the authorities to quickly pass it. Bahati said he had been “assured” that the Bill would be passed.

Bahati’s optimism notwithstanding, his Bill may still have tough hurdles to overcome, because some gay activists have dragged Minister Lokodo to the constitutional court, accusing him of violating the constitutional right to freedom of assembly.  END.  Login to www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories mid-week for our updates

Follow us: Twitter: @UGCorrespondent

Follow us: Facebook: Uganda Correspondent