The Ugandan Constitutional Court declared the Anti-Homosexuality Act invalid, the Ugandan State launched an appeal, the Parliamentarians calling for a new Bill, and the Ugandan LGBTI community held a “post Anti-Homosexuality Act” Pride celebration, “Beach Pride Uganda”, setting off the inevitable tabloid outing by Red Pepper.
Here-we-go-again….
- Parliament wants to re introduce the Anti-Homosexuality Bill;
- The State appeals the case it lost; and
- Pride instigates Red Pepper Tabloid – causing yet a few more to run for cover -desperate for jobs, lodging and food …
- the rabidly anti-gay Pastors holding out their hats to fill the Church coffers;
- politicians to use the issue – scape-goat the real ills of their country and bolster their political scores;
- Red Pepper’s sales will increase;
- perceived LGBT leaders continue to globe trot winning awards and accolades abroad; and
- a minimal humanitarian response for those outed, desperate for jobs, shelter and food…
Yes in sum, The NRM Parliamentary Caucus , the party of the 28 year long dictator Museveni, meets to discuss its next Anti-Homosexuality move, the State lodges its appeal, and Pride parties are fueling the tabloid fires.
THE NRM STORY FROM THE UGANDAN DAILY MONITOR:
PARLIAMENT.
The NRM Parliamentary Caucus will convene today to chat a way forward on the fate of the Anti-Homosexuality Act 2014, which was nullified by the Constitutional Court on grounds that Parliament passed it without the required quorum.The NRM caucus meeting comes as the number of MPs in support of a drive to re-introduce the anti-gays Bill in Parliament has shot up to 208.
MPs supporting the re-tabling of the Bill will also convene a session today to map out a strategy about how the Bill will be re-introduced in Parliament.
These MPs want Parliament to put on hold the handling of the ongoing Budget process and first ensure the restoration of the anti-gays law.
There is also a request to the Speaker for the suspension of the House rules of procedure to allow the Bill to be passed without going through all the lengthy phases.Following the nullification of the law, President Museveni promised that the NRM Parliamentary Caucus would sit and decide a course of action.
Yesterday, Ndorwa West MP and NRM deputy Chief Whip David Bahati, who tabled the Bill in 2009 as a Private Member’s initiative, confirmed that Mr Museveni would attend today’s session about the nullified law.
“We have other issues to discuss but the anti-homosexuality law may also come up. But the road to success is always under construction. We shall not get tired of defending the future of our children,” Mr Bahati said, declining to give more details.
Kawempe North MP Latif Sebaggala, the brainchild of the drive to collect signatures, said they want to swiftly pursue the process of restoring the law because an appeal in court would drag on.
The court’s action to nullify a law whose supporters argue is essential in the protection of Uganda’s cultural and family values continues triggering a backlash from MPs and religious leaders.
Religious leaders speak
Religious leaders urged MPs not to buckle under the pressure of Western countries that have opposed the law on grounds that it offends human rights and reacted by cutting aid when it was passed in February.Kampala Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga said homosexual acts violate the Constitution and compromise human dignity.
“Homosexuality acts breach the Constitution of Uganda…,” Bishop Lwanga said on Saturday.However, Pastor Solomon Male of the Arise for Christ Ministry, said: “MPs need to drop the anti-gay law and sensitise the public about the laws in the Penal Code. ”
THE APPEAL AS REPORTED ON OBLOGDEE:
Ugandan Attorney General Appeals Anti-Homosexuality Act Court Ruling
By Melanie Nathan, August 08, 2014.
The Attorney General of Uganda has filed a Notice of Appeal in an attempt to reverse the Constitutional Court of Uganda’s judgment which voided the Anti Homosexuality Act.
Advocates, who won the case, and were awarded 50% of the costs and are now preparing to fight the appeal all the way to the Supreme Court in Uganda.
In any event parliamentarians have launched a petition, vowing to bring the Act back to the legislature, knowing they have the populace on their side. The case was won on a flawed procedure rather than on the human rights merits of whether the content of the law is in and of itself constitutional.
In the meantime many Ugandan LGBTI people, impacted by the law still remain in hiding, for fear of reprisal and unable to work due to firings which followed the passage of the law and outings in public and news media. Some are facing imminent eviction. People are reporting that the Ugandan LGBT organization whom they have approached for direct humanitarian funding have told them they are unable to provide humanitarian funds.
AND REHASHING THE TABLOID INTEREST By RED PEPPER as is predictably outs more “HOMOS”
Yes, I did not cover this year’s Pride – and yes I have covered Ugandan Pride in the past – as per this well received viral AUG 08, 2012 article, in The Advocate with over 14,000 FB shares at the time. However for various reasons I chose not cover this year’s Pride.
