By George Murumba

17^th Dec 2012:

Conservative President Museveni

President Yoweri Museveni has said Uganda “…cannot accept the promotion of homosexuality as if it’s a good thing.”  The president however also said gay people should not be killed or persecuted, as MPs continue to consider a controversial Anti-Homosexuality Bill.

The original version of the Bill stipulated the death penalty for some homosexual acts, but this has reportedly been dropped.  According to the BBC’s Catherine Byaruhanga, the president was careful to neither condemn the Bill nor openly support it.

Homosexual acts are illegal in Uganda.  The government however insists that the controversial Anti-homosexuality Bill was introduced by an individual MP, and was therefore not official government policy.

“If there are some homosexuals, we shall not kill or persecute them but there should be no promotion of homosexuality.” Museveni reported said.  “We cannot accept promotion of homosexuality as if it is a good thing.”

According to the BBC report, government Ministers have warned MPs that passing the Bill would have implications for foreign relations.  The Bill has already been condemned by Western donors, who have suggested that aid could be cut if it is passed.

Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga however said recently that the Anti-homosexuality Bill would be passed as a “Christmas gift” to its advocates.  Some African opponents of homosexuality have said it was introduced to the continent by European colonisers.

However, Mr Museveni said he knew of traditional kings and chiefs who practised homosexuality, but that they did it in secret and did not promote it.  He said he had told the US ambassador to Kampala that all forms of sex were kept private in Africa, unlike in Western societies.

“I told him that I have been married to my wife for 39 years, but I have never kissed her in public and in my house before the children,” the New Vision newspaper quoted him as saying at the same church ceremony.

“If I did it, I would lose elections and you know I am not about to accept that idea of losing elections.”

Gay rights campaigners in Uganda say they are living in fear of attack.  In 2011, activist David Kato was beaten to death but police denied this was related to his sexuality.  END: Login to www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories mid-week for our updates

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