The Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2009

Uganda is a country full of contradictions. Kampala is full of cars, yet there are only a handful (literally) of traffic lights. There is an unbelievable abundance of fruits and vegetables, of great variety, yet there are basically only 3 main dishes, which makes one wonder what happens to all the other fruits and vegetables. The streets are full of Mercedes-Benz…and pond-sized potholes. There are luxurious houses and classic suburban America homes a block or two from urban slums. All of the above contradictions, as I see them to be, do not gain to much public attention. People mostly seem to accept them as part of everyday life in Uganda. However, there is one major contradiction that has created a lot of controversy lately and will continue to gain much more in the future: Uganda is a constantly changing country and, yet, its view of “culture” is very much static.

Uganda’s static view of culture has put Uganda in the international spot-light twice in the last 6 months. First, people rioted over their “king” being denied access to part of his kingdom by the central government. Many people throughout Uganda believe the old kingdoms should be recognized, even granted federal status. The status of kingdoms in Uganda has a long controversial history, but that’s not what I want to focus on here. Instead, I want to focus on the second, more recent, issue: the Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2009.

The Ugandan Parliament is entertaining a draconian bill against homosexuality. If you ask many Ugandans about homosexuality, then they’ll say it’s not a part of their “culture.” They’ll say, “It’s not part of African culture.” Yet, spend a weekend in Uganda without knowing the “culture” and you’d be a bit flabbergasted by this comment, especially coming from many places in America. Men hold hands with men, everywhere, freely. Women hold hands with women, everywhere. In the bars, men dance with men. In a lot of America, these things would seem taboo. However, here, it’s just part of the culture. Yet, in America, fortunately, even if some people would want it, we are not trying to imprison people for same-sex relations.

The bill presented before the Ugandan Parliament would make any same-sex relations and any knowledge of same-sex relations illegal. It is a bill that will imprison people or put people to death for same-sex relations, having sex with HIV, “attempted” homosexuality, knowing without reporting that someone is a homosexual, and the promotion of homosexuality. Advocates of the bill are arguing all this is necessary to protect the culture and to protect children. In reality, the bill opens up a black hole where people will be able to condemn and imprison enemies for same-sex relations. It also makes me wonder if, while I argued homosexuality was also a human-right in class, I could be imprisoned. According to my understanding of the bill, I probably could be.

The international community has, thankfully, condemned the Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2009. Unfortunately, I am not sure the lip-service will do anything unless donors go as far as to freeze aid, which I do not see happening. There are many legislators that support the bill and the ones that do not support it fear not voting for it. Why would they fear not voting for it? Ugandans in general support it, vehemently. There is a trashy paper here called the Red Pepper and it sometimes has complete issues dedicated to revealing the names/occupations of homosexuals within Uganda. It’s the fastest selling issue of the paper. In fact, sadly, it sells out completely each time. That is why legislators fear opposing it, they know their constitutes support it, even if they don't fully comprehend its implications.

For more information about the bill and Uganda’s view of it, check out the following articles written by friends of mine.

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2009/10/28/ugandas_do_ask_do_tell?page=full

http://www.independent.co.ug/index.php/column/comment/70-comment/2092-anti-gay-bill-opens-a-pandoras-box

There are also articles that have been published by international newspapers/magazines such as the New York Times, BBC, and The Economist.

I'm hoping, if I blog about this bill again, it will be to say it failed to pass through parliament. Uganda is constantly changing and wants to "develop," yet the people are trying adamantly to preserve their static view of what their culture is. I find that a very dangerous, and potentially explosive, combination and contradiction.