Mistrust and Hate: The Frightening New Lives of Homosexuals in Uganda

[xchrom]

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/gays-and-lesbians-in-uganda-under-pressure-after-new-law-a-964632.html


Dennis Wamala is the director of Icebreakers Uganda, a group that provides support to gays and lesbians in his country. After the new law was signed, his boyfriend elected not to return home from a theater trip to France. "You don't have a chance against a mob," he says.


Michael Kawuba is sitting in his church office reflecting on tumescence. "We Ugandans get an erection when we see a beautiful woman," he says. "Anything else is unnatural."

During the day, Kawuba works as a financial advisor, but once he is finished, he rejoins the battle against homosexuality. A friendly man of 31, Kawuba is married and has three children -- and he is not one to rant. But every second Sunday, he preaches to the Kakumba congregation. "The Bible forbade homosexuality. God rained down fire onto Sodom and Gomorrah" -- he continues in this vein for hours at a time, standing behind a wooden pulpit. The sanctuary is spacious with a roof made of palm fronds. A band including guitar, bass and drums players pumps out gospel music while worshippers sing along, sway to the rhythm and stretch their arms heavenward as they call out "praise the Lord!"

On Feb. 24, God would seem to have finally heard their entreaties. That was the day that President Yoweri Museveni signed a law making "aggravated homosexuality" punishable with sentences of up to life in prison. A first draft of the law had even called for the death penalty. Michael Kawuba invited friends over for the event and they watched their head of state sign the new statute. "We cheered like we were watching football," Kawuba says.

According to one survey, 96 percent of all Ugandans find homosexuality unacceptable and many are in favor of locking away gays, lesbians and transsexuals. Uganda has long been a model country in Africa: Though the regime is authoritarian, the country is stable and economically successful. Now, it has one of the most draconian anti-gay laws on the continent, trailing only Nigeria's Muslim north, Mauretania, Somalia and Sudan. Now, homosexuality is a punishable offense in 36 of Africa's 54 countries.

[AverageJoe90]

1. 96 percent? If that's even close to accurate.....

Then I'm afraid it seems that country has been truly radicalized by the Fundies and their ilk. Mr. Wamala and those brave souls like him have a very long road ahead of them.....and I wish them the best of luck.

[Bluenorthwest]

2. About 85% of the country is either Catholic or Anglican, clerics of both faith

groups have supported this law, Francis the Pope has said nothing against it as his Bishops take part in mass celebrations of the new hate laws against their neighbors. Christians outside of those two groups account for about 6% of Uganda's population so it strains credibility to claim that the 'fundies' have an agenda that the Catholics and Anglicans do not share.
The silence of the man who calls himself Francis is a damning silence. He votes each day for this pogrom with his silence.