Life sentences for Ugandan homosexuals

The News Watch, 27rd April 2005
By Muhumuza Gerald

15 homosexuals arrested from the western part of Uganda, Masindi have been given life prison sentences.
Homosexuality in Uganda is illegal and punishable with a maximum sentence of life in prison.
The Homosexuals where rounded up after long surveillance operation in masindi town. When asked why they were given a life sentence without a court trial .The investigating officer Mr Mark Ruhinda said “no one could sit in court and listen to these sick people explaining why they like fellow men, this was a decision that came from the top. If I were you, I would stop this investigation”
Authorities have confirmed that this is part of there on going investigation to crack down on homosexuals.
Two weeks ago on 13th April 2006, the Government spokesman Dr James Nsaba Buturo has promised to arrest gay Ugandans known to be operating church. Its obvious from the recent crack down that the government is making good of there promise.
Doctor Nsaba Buturo said “This is should send a loud and clear message to all they gay people in Uganda, we will find them and lock them up for life”
This is the first time the government publicly confirmed that they are cracking down on homosexuality and handing down sentences.“I do not think we have seen the end of this complete disregard for human rights” said James mutamba a United Nations social worker.

muhumuza Gerald wrote:

The News Watch...

That's really horrible! Here's some background info on the situation in Uganda from late last year:

http://www.iglhrc.org/site/iglhrc/section.php...

This incident happened in the western part of uganda. That is a very poor part of the country and theres only one newspaper. This incident didnot get the coverage it deserved. People are being killed in villages because everyone believes gay people are badluck and evil. Most villages will blame all the evils of there socities on homosexuals and there'evil practices'. This story was printed in the new vision for a day and then removed, i wonder why.

Mr Rodney Kirkby wrote:

If true, it's strange how 15 Ugandan homosexuals can get sentence to 15 years imprisoment but yet not one Ugandan has been murdered for being a homosexual. Unlike the hundreds of homosexuals murdered in the in the USA and in Blair's Britain alone. Is the situation really that horrible? In many ways Uganda is more tolerant.

I wasn't trying to compare it to here or to where you live. Just because things are horrible here doesn't mean they're not horrible elsewhere.

British colonialism, which set up sodomy laws around the world, including Uganda, is partly responsible for the horrible situations in some places, not just in the UK. Someday maybe that history will be more clear? Obviously it's not now. Some people still think the existence of sexual minorities, rather than homophobia, is a colonial import.

I usually focus on the US, since that's what affects me personally. Part of that also means opposing US (and UK) imperialism and transnational neocolonialism. Maybe you see IGLHRC as part of that liberal NGO regime? Perhaps so. So I shouldn't have posted a link to their site? Is it wrong for me to express any form of internationalist solidarity with other queer people? How come only straight people seem to say that?

And frankly, you're full of sh*t if you think no Ugandans have been murdered for being gay.

And why tell me all this? Why don't you go to the prison where these 15 people are being held and tell them personally that really their situation isn't so bad.

Here's another article I found through Google. I have no idea what afrol.com is so I'm not trying to endorse them or not endorse them. It's just an article that came up on google.

http://www.afrol.com/articles/18781

But you likely think that's propaganda too. It probably makes you feel more butch to believe that. You think the solution to neocolonialism is by being butch and strong and emulating western patriarchy? Fine. Go for it. I won't comment any more on this.

well put jenny

muhumuza Gerald wrote:

well put jenny

Thanks, and thanks especially for the article.

Mr Rodney Kirkby,
Next time research your facts more carefully. Here is an extract from this washington based African news website

'In September 1999 president Yoweri Museveni instructed Ugandan police to lock up and charge homosexuals. In October 1999 five members of the newly formed organisation, Right Companion, were arrested and deported to so-called 'safe houses.' One of the activists was raped twice, all were beaten, the recognised South African gay Internet site The Mask reports. Gay activists since then have continued to be persecuted and in June 2000, Ugandan police was covering up the murder of a member of Lesgabix, a lesbian and gay grouping in Kampala'

http://www.afrol.com/html/Categories/Gay/back...

My seventeen year-old foster grand-son Isaac was attacked by the villagers of Chigoloba in Central Buganda, including a local counsellor who tired to rip his throat open, for being gay last year. The doctors tell me his body still bears the signs of severe abuse. He thinks that they may have lynched his boyfriend. I'd like to hear from anyone who knows about this particular incident. We submitted an account of this violence to the US State Department, but they didn't mention it in their human-rights report for 2005. I note that the Bush administration's stake in excluding gay women and men from its HIV-prevention strategies in Uganda has been documented, although the Ugandan Minister of Health's excellent analysis of Bush's impact on Ugandan policy focuses exclusively on the shortage of condoms. ewen_macmillan@hotmail.com

It figures that the countries that are the most homophobic are also the least educated and third-world black countries.He thinks anyone who thinks men are attractive is sick.LOL.Me too,that's why I don't date bisexuals.Women don't date people who sleep with men.