Why Germany will not cut aid over gay Bill

Tight situation. The German government is taking advice from gay rights activists and will not cut aid to Uganda due to the anti-gay Bill now before Parliament even as other countries stopped funding donor projects over rampant corruption. A German official says they have been convinced that aid cuts do not produce the desired results, writes Eriasa Mukiibi Sserunjogi from Berlin.

Tim Kuschenerus, the protestant secretary of the Joint Conference on Church and Development, approached the matter from a historical view point. He argued that homophobia was just “exported” to Africa by missionaries. “Many African societies used to have heterosexual practices,” he added.

The Germany government decided not to wait for religious leaders and others to find common ground on homosexuality.

Mr Loning says that even if some people may believe that homosexuality is a sin or a disease, they should at least accept the view that every human being has a right to choose his lifestyle. This is the line his government has to sell to the government of Uganda.

emukiibi@ug.nationmedia.com