Just recently Andrew began spreading the word about a huge injustice that is happening in Uganda and I beg you to continue to read this post and move into action! The following is some information about a bill that the Ugandan government is trying to pass from the facebook group concerning this issue, http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=198541255168
the orgnaisations said the draft bill’s proposals will result in gross human rights abuses and hamper the fight against HIV/AIDS as gay people will fear to come forth for HIV testing, counseling and treatment if they are found HIV positive.
Homosexuality is already a crime in Uganda, but the Minister of Ethics and Integrity, Dr. James Nsaba Buturo has been complaining that the law is inadequate to curb homosexuality that is reported to be on the increase in Uganda.
He says the current law requires the state to prove that a person is indeed engaging in same sex relations, which has been difficult for the police to establish.
Apart from occasional arrests, torture and harassment, no one has been convicted of homosexuality since the law was introduced in Uganda’s Penal code (Section 140) by British colonialists.
The High Court ruled in favour of gays in a landmark case last December that was filed by gay Rights activists, contending that all Ugandans are entitled to the same rights and freedoms, including from torture and discrimination on the basis of sex, gender, ethnicity or other grouping.
The proposed law now seeks to criminalize those who promote homosexuality, including publishing information or providing funds, premises for any activities by gays or giving them any other resources.
The bill also seeks to punish by up to three year imprisonment anyone including heterosexual people, who fail to report within 24 hours the identities of everyone they know who is lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.
But how all these crimes will be proved and prosecuted is not clear in the draft bill.
Many religious leaders in Uganda and the Family Life Network have been fighting against what they call a proliferation of homosexuality in the country and accuse some individuals and organization of recruiting homosexuals in schools and luring students with money and gifts.
The Gays in Uganda have refuted these accusations arguing that they are aimed at presenting homosexuals as predators taking advantage of innocent children.
You can also read the bill yourself here, http://wthrockmorton.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/anti-homosexuality-bill-2009.pdf
Below is a letter from Andrew. Please join the facebook group, begin praying now! and join us on Nov. 17th as we all pray for this situation and PLEASE write to the public and government officials at the end of this letter. Whatever your beliefs on the subject of homosexuality it's a moot point, this legislation is not biblical.
Hello Everyone,Thank you all for continuing to spread the message that regardless of one’s theological belief system, this legislation is wrong. Dr. Warren Throckmorton and I are assembling a day of prayer. We know that there are many of you in this group who are not religious, and we are not asking you to do something you are not comfortable with. But for those who do have a faith tradition we ask that on Tuesday November 17th, you take at least 30 minutes to pray for the following:
1. That this legislation be thrown out
2. For protection and peace for our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters living in this oppression in Uganda and around the world
3. That the Ugandan Church realize this legislation is not morally or Scripturally correct – as there has been disturbing news recently coming from some of my contacts in Uganda and Parliament that the Ugandan Church is starting to make official statements in favor of this bill. I will be posting those as soon as they are official.
The world will feel this impact! I know that on the evening of November 17th I have a large group gathering in Chicago that will be focusing our time in prayer for the aforementioned three requests. This Facebook group has members located all over the world, and we have a unique opportunity to gather throughout the globe to lift these injustices to our Creator to make a divine impact. If your belief urges you to do so, please join us in this day of prayer. Thank you.
In the meantime, please also contact the following influencers to voice your opposition to this legislation:
CONTACT:
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni
State House Nakasero
P.O. Box 24594
Kampala, Uganda
Tel: 256-41-343-311
Fax: 256-41-346-102
info@statehouse.go.ugPrime Minister Apollo Nsibambi
Post Office Building, Yusuf Lule Road
P.O. Box 341
Kampala, Uganda
Tel: 256-41-423-6252
Fax: 256-41-434-1139
ps@opm.go.ugSpeaker of the Parliament Edward Ssekandi Kiwanuka
P.O. Box 7178, Parliamentary Avenue
Kampala, Uganda
Tel: 256-414-377-100
Fax: 256-414-231-296
speaker@parliament.go.ugMinister of Gender, Labour, and Social Affairs
Honorable Opio Gabriel
P.O. Box 1494
Kampala, Uganda
Tel: 256-41-510-732
ps@mglsd.go.ugMed Kaggwa, Chair of the Uganda Human Rights Commission
Plot 20/22/24 Buganda Road
P.O. Box 4929,
Kampala, Uganda
Tel: 256-414-348-007/8
Fax: 256-414-255-261
uhrc@uhrc.ugDirectorate for Ethics and Integrity
P.O. Box 7142
Kampala, Uganda
Tel: 256-(0)41-430-1600
Fax: 256-(0)41-434-3177
info@dei.go.ugMathisen Gørild
Chair of the Uganda Diplomatic Human Rights Working Groups
gorild.mathisen@mfa.noSend a copy to:
Jerry P. Lanier, Ambassador to the Republic of Uganda
Embassy of the United States of America
P.O. Box 7007,
Kampala, Uganda
Tel: 256-414-259-791/2/3/5
Fax: 256-414-259-794
kampalawebcontact@state.govSend an email and fax to:
Perezi K. Kamunanwire, Ambassador to the US
Tel: 1-202-726-4758
Fax: 1-202-726-1727
pkamunanwire@ugandaembassyus.orgDr. Ruhakana Rugunda
Permanent Representative of the Republic of Uganda to the United Nations
336 East 45 Street
New York, NY 10017
Tel: 1-212-949-0110
Fax: 1-212-687-4517
ugandaunny@un.int_________________________________________________________
I pray that we would join in the suffering of the people in Uganda.
Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
Shalom
2 comments:
I still have no idea how this works or how they expect it to work- does the Ugandan government think homosexuality is a choice in which one engages, or a sexual identity that cannot be changed? Because if it's the former, how in the world does it work if you're admittedly gay but, say, are practicing celibacy or seeking some form of ex-gay therapy? And if it's the latter viewpoint, and yet GLBT folks are still imprisoned/put to death . . . yikes.
The whole thing is so sad. Have you/are you going to write e-mails to any of the contacts Andrew listed?
Also, on a less emotional note, I'm really, very curious as to how Uganda, or any anti-gay country, for that matter, handles transsexuality. I watched the most engrossing documentary on Iranian transsexuals not too long ago. Iran is, obviously, anti-gay (executions and Ahmadinejad claiming there are no gays there), but they have, surprisingly, government-sanctioned sex changes. I imagine, however, that Uganda probably views MtF women as gay men and MtF men as lesbians . . . but what a conundrum a gay transman or a lesbian transwoman would present. The sad part is that I doubt any such person would live long enough for others to even contemplate the intricacies of those identities.
I'm assuming they believe homosexuality is a choice and yes...yikes :(
Yes, I am going to do my best to shoot out an email to each of the contacts with my concerns. I'll try to post a cover letter here on my blog about it. You should too!
I'm assuming they'd lump the Transgender folks in the homosexual category. And I wish they'd allow some conversation and dialogue about this!
Also, have you done any research on your own about what's going on in Uganda? Did you find any interesting things? Do you know what the community is doing to try to fight against this injustice? Just curious.
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