Month: February 2014

Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Act of 2014 – Full Text

A pdf of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2014 as signed today in Uganda is here.
Some reports indicated that the penalty for “the offence of homosexuality” would be 14 years in prison. However, the penalty is actually life.

The offence of homosexuality.
(1) A person commits the offence of homosexuality if—
c) he or she touches another person with the intention of committing the act of homosexuality.
(2) A person who commits an offence under this section shall be liable, on conviction, to imprisonment for life.

Life in prison for touching.
The Ugandan professors who stood with Museveni have some explaining to do.

Former Member of Uganda Ministry of Health Committee on Homosexuality Objects to Political Direction; Declines to Sign Report

According to a Uganda Media Centre spokesman, President Museveni will sign the Anti-Homosexuality Bill today. However, he will do so amid discord on the committee he has appointed for political cover. Dr. Eugene Kinyanda is one name that was on the initial committee but does not appear among the signers of the final report. I have learned that he has declined to sign the report.
Dr Kinyanda wrote to fellow committee member Dr. Ezati and said:

I would like to state that I will not be signing the above document. This is mainly because what was initially just an inquiry to inform the scientific understanding of homosexuality from a medical standpoint has taken a very political direction. I will not be used to justify the passing of a bill which as a doctor I do not fully understand.
Regards
Dr Eugene Kinyanda

Dr. Kinyanda is certainly correct to question the political direction of the committee and I applaud his action.

Uganda Media Centre Spokesman: President to Sign Anti-Homosexuality Bill at 11am Today (UPDATED)

Update:


Ofwono Opondo tweeted earlier that Uganda’s President Museveni will sign the Anti-Homosexuality Bill at 11am Monday.

 
Opondo doesn’t hide his views behind his spokesperson role.

 
Five years ago to the day, Jim Burroway at Box Turtle Bulletin raised the flag of concern over the Kampala conference which was the public beginning of the effort to prepare Ugandans for the anti-gay bill. My first post about it was March 2, 2009.
The final report of the Ministry of Health committee on homosexuality will most likely be used by Museveni to evade responsibility for his decision. A copy of that report is here.
H/t – Box Turtle Bulletin

Exclusive: Changes Made in Final Report of Uganda's Ministry of Health Committee on Homosexuality

I have obtained a copy of the final report of the Ministry of Health Committee on Homosexuality. Dated February 23, this report is more extensive than the first report with changes to the contents as well as the membership of the committee.
This report provides a more extensive look at research (although it is still missing some very important papers) and more significantly does not include recommendations regarding legislation. Two members were added to the committee: Assoc. Prof Charles Ibingira and Dr. Hannington Kasozi, and two names which were on the meeting minutes and first report do not show up on this report: Dr. Seggane Musisi, and Associate Professor Eugene Kinyanda.

The premise of this whole exercise should be called into question. If genetic determination is going to be the doorway to civil rights, then we should begin looking for the gene which determines membership in the NRM. It is beyond discouraging that the members of this committee did not raise this concern and discuss the limits of science to address the questions Museveni raised.
A particularly cruel part of this report is the recognition that reparative therapy interventions have not been successful. So what are Uganda’s GLB people to do? This anti-gay law can only be seen as abusive if the people who are the target can’t help it and can’t change it.
The copy of the report I have does not yet have signatures. One can only hope that the members will rethink their stance before the report comes to them for their signature.
UPDATE: Apparently, Museveni will sign the bill at 11am.

Is Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Bill On Hold?

In a statement dated February 18, but widely available just today (e.g., the Observer), Uganda’s President Museveni seems to leave open the door that the Anti-Homosexuality Bill could be put on hold while he seeks additional input from researchers and scientists. Here is Museveni’s statement in full:

According to a Reuter’s report, the president’s spokesperson said the bill was on hold pending more research.
As I noted earlier this evening, one of the committee member’s of the Ministry of Health ad hoc committee is raising questions about how the committee’s work has been misused.
According to Museveni’s statement, he wants the U.S. government to work with Uganda’s scientific community.