No killing, marginalisation of sexual minorities in Uganda; Museveni
President Museveni with a delegation led by Ms Kerry Kennedy, the president of the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights, an American based Human Rights organization. PPU Photo.
President Yoweri Museveni has said there is no discrimination, no killings, no marginalization and no luring of young people using money into homosexual acts in Uganda.
Issues relating to sexual minority groups, Mr Museveni also said, have been “distorted” leading to wrong public debate.
“In our society, there were a few homosexuals. There was no persecution, no killings and no marginalization of these people but they were regarded as deviants. Sex among Africans including heterosexuals is confidential,” Mr Museveni said.
Mr Museveni made the remarks on Tuesday while meeting a delegation led by Ms Kerry Kennedy, the president of the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights, an American based Human Rights organization.
“If am to kiss my wife in public, I would lose an election in Uganda. Western people exhibit sexual acts in public which we don’t do here,” he added.
Mr Museveni has also promised to investigate allegations relating to violence against Sexual Minority Groups.
Insisting the public display of affection amongst heterosexuals was punishable in ancient African Society; Mr Museveni said Europe and other Western people’s approach to sex “is a problem, luring young people into acts of homosexuality for money”.
“You have a lot of room in your house, why don’t you go there. Sex is a bilateral issue, not a multilateral one,” he said.
“Attempts to promote homosexuality as an alternative way of life has led to engagements in running battles with the church,” Mr Museveni added.
Ms Kennedy, who was accompanied by several lawyers, actors and religious leaders, expressed concern over the pending Anti-Homosexuality bill, reports of harassment of the Gay and Lesbian Community in Uganda and over the exposure of the identities of sexual minority groups. She also said the pending bill on homosexuality works against the international law treaties that Uganda has signed. Ms Kennedy cautioned against the misconceptions that equate paedophiles with homosexuals.
