The following is in reaction to a press conference by Uganda's gay group SMUG, in which they asked the public to stop discriminating against GLBT people. I couldn't get to the original without logging in, and I didn't want to register. The reaction is the "same old, same old," but in Uganda it take a lot of courage to speak publicly.
http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/13/581922
Religious leaders rap homosexuals
Friday, 17th August, 2007 E-mail article Print article
By Steven Candia
and Alfred Wasike
FAITH groups yesterday condemned the homosexuals’ move to demand for acceptance while the Government and the Police moved with caution. On Thursday, homosexuals had a press conference where they complained about discrimination.
Sheik Yahaya Lukwago, an executive member of the Uganda Muslims Supreme Council, accused the group of polluting the public.
“In the Sharia law, they deserve to be killed. Allah created us for reproduction. Prophet Mohammed wrote in the Quran that homosexuals should be killed,” Lukwago said.
Archbishop Dr. John Wani, of the Seventh Day Adventists (SDA) Church said it was for such unnatural behaviour that God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.
The Rev. Aaron Mwesigye, the Provincial Secretary of the Church of Uganda, said the practice was against the scriptures. “God’s design and intention is for humanity to express itself only in male and female relationship and for procreation. We condemn homosexuality.
Our position is to seek out lost sheep.”
A senior Catholic cleric yesterday condemned homosexuality saying it “‘goes against the grain of the scriptures.’ “Procreation is the main purpose humanity was created. How would procreation take place if homosexuality is exalted,” he asked.
Ethics minister James Nsaba Buturo termed Thursday’s press conference as “a challenge against the law and unacceptable”, dubbing it “a game aimed at softening public opinion.”
However, he conceded that the matter was complex, adding that the Government would issue a statement on the matter “at an appropriate time.”
The press conference, largely perceived as pointer of the vice taking root in the community, forced Buturo to hastily convene a meeting with the Minister of Internal Affairs, seeking his opinion on how to deal with the matter.
Buturo also blamed the Police for not doing its work. “I wish the Police would do its work,” he said.
But the Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura, yesterday said the matter was complex and needed to be approached cautiously.
“This practice has been around and is a problem, which needs a multi-pronged approach, including stakeholders to combat,’ he said, adding: “But we are studying the matter.”