Homosexuality not our priority

There is a voice so strong in denouncing homosexuals and supporting this Bill. Donors have been told to take their money elsewhere if they do not like this Bill. I do remember that during the Temangalo saga, the silence for this same loud voice was deafening. The Bahati Bill in its current form should be withdrawn and redrafted. Currently we have a law which states that if an adult male is accused of having sex with a female below the age of 18, he must go to jail. The same male can marry a 15-year-old girl with the permission of her father, and there is nothing the courts can do about it.

In Uganda homosexuals have not yet started to flaunt their way of life. Unless you are one of them or deliberately go to look for them, they are “invisible”. Most Ugandans do not know a single homosexual. Their lives are not affected on a daily basis by this practice. However, almost all ordinary Ugandans life is affected by thieving officials and politicians and their friends.

As far as I am concerned, while I do not condone homosexuality, I do not consider it a burning priority. Let Parliament deal first with those members of the House who falsified their academic papers in order to be elected. Next, censure those involved in shady deals while at the same time reducing the numbers of members and their emoluments.

For those committed to homosexuality, this Bill, if it became law, will merely drive the practice underground but never stop it. There are many serious problems facing this country which need to be addressed. Homosexuality is just one but not the most urgent.

Dr Aliker is an eminent citizen and businessman