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Use event to speak out against
gays - MPs
01 Nov 2007- Kampala, Uganda- Members of
Parliament have asked the government to use the Chogm summit to speak out
against homosexuality.
Addressing a press conference at Parliament on Monday, Oyam South MP Ishaa Otto
demanded for a clamp down on gays and lesbians to protect what he described as
the 'fabric that holds Ugandan society intact'.
"Chogm is an opportunity for the government to send a clear message that gays
are not welcome in Uganda. It's unfortunate that the government is silent as if
there is nothing happening. The society must rise up against homosexuality
before it's too late," Mr Otto said.
He said due to the absence of a tough law, the gay community is growing. "The
government should urgently table a new bill that criminalises homosexuality with
punitive amendments that guarantee arrests to prevent the spread of gay
practices," he said.
In a separate interview, Kawempe South MP, Ssebuliba Mutumba said, "We call for
seriousness on the part of the government to check homosexuality because it's
illegal and a taboo."
He said action was needed urgently because gays were increasingly becoming
visible and this may lead to "a morally corrupted society."
Homosexuality is illegal in Uganda. In the Penal Code it is categorised under
the crime of sexual practices against the order of nature and attracts a
sentence of life imprisonment.
However, on August 16, a coalition of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender
(LGBT) activists addressed an unprecedented press conference calling for
recognition of their rights under a campaign dubbed "Let Us Live in Peace".
This however, led to a demonstration against them by religious groups.
The Minister of Ethics and Integrity, Dr James Nsaba Buturo, told Daily Monitor
that a new law would be tabled soon. "As soon as Parliament resumes, we shall
table a tough law. The government is doing everything possible to stamp out
homosexuality."
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