THE ANTI-HOMOSEXUALITY BILL GAINS MORE GROUND

The anti-homosexuality bill on Wednesday 18nth 2009 went to a higher gear when intellectuals of makerere university termed the stand taken by Sylvia Tamale over the proposed bill as Unafrican. Many university dons wondered whether Dr. Sylvia Tamale as eeducated as she is and as experienced as she could support such a weird act of homosexuality. Dr. Sylvia Tamale is a lecturer at Makerere university faculty of law and has been a prominent figure in the university especially in drafting the Makerere university sexual harassment policy. Dr. pr. Martin Ssempa; a chief architect of the anti-homosexuality bill wondered why Sylvia Tamale crafts policies that protects girl child at the university but is opposed to the anti-homosexuality bill which brings into effect the protection of the boy child too.

On the panel of discussants was Mr. Stephen langa of Family Life policy Network, Hon. David Bahati; the mover of the bill in parliament, Dr. oloka onyango, Retired major Mr. Rubaramira, and Dr. Sylvia Tamale. When asked whether she supports homosexuality or not, Dr. Sylvia Tamale tactfully said neither of the above but she supports human rights. "so long as they dont affect anyone," said Sylvia Tamale. It was obvious from the floor of house that most of the members detested homosexuality and were highly in support of the bill. Dr. Martin Ssempa on his arrival at the venue received a tumultuous welcome gesturing that the momentum of the debate in favor of the bill had gained ground. Giggles and mimics could be heard allover.

Major Rubaramira; one of those opposed to the anti-homosexuality bill said that being many doesnt mean you are right. He warned that the law may be enacted but still have serious implications and tomorrow we cry for its removal.

The highly heated debate refused to end even after it had ended. Many inquisitive students engaged in a serious debate outside the auditorium for more than an hour drawing more insights from the debate. Mr. Stephen Langa from Family Life Network noted that most of this systems in the world have their roots in the bible. "Constitutions are a biblical concept - read Leviticus, the three arms of the government are a biblical concept," said Mr. Stephen Lwanga.

UGANDA JOINT CHRISTIAN COUNCIL MEETING (UJCC) MEET OVER THE ANTI-HOMOSEXUALITY BILL

The Uganda Joint Christian Council (UJCC) on Monday resolved to support the anti-homosexuality bill currently in parliament. In a closed door meeting held in Kampala on Monday 9th Nov. 2009 at their premises near the old Kampala mosque, they expressed concern why of all the bills this has so much drawn the attention of the international community. They noted that a lot of money is changing hands in pursuit of discrediting the bill. The meeting was attended by most of the prominent leaders within the ranks of Christian circles. They included Rev. Fr. Dr. Silvester Nkesiga of UJCC, Canon Oneka Joseph of UJCC, Mr. Godfrey Amanyire of UJCC, Dr. Pr. Martin Ssempa of Makerere Community Church, Prof. Rev. Peter Matovu of Uganda Orthodox Church, Ssemwanga Fredrick the Catholic secretary, Pastor Michael Kyazze of Omega healing centre and Pastor Solomon Male of Arise for Christ Ministries among others.

The leaders resolved to support the bill after vetting out clauses that threatened to discredit it. This included the death penalty on aggravated homosexuality which was regarded as being too severe. Some members viewed it as unchristian given that Christ always preached reconciliation and change of heart. “I still believe in change”, said Canon Oneka. This was however challenged by some others like pastor Ssempa and Pastor Michael kyazze who said that by going like that they may not even charge a murderer. “We should not just look at this with the conscience of the offender but also with the conscience of the offended. Some lives are wrecked beyond repair.” Said Michael Kyazze. This was in light of the direction the discussion had taken where most members seemingly were being sympathetic with the offenders. They however reached a consensus and lessened the penalty to life imprisonment.

Pastor Martin Ssempa of Makerere Community Church, a man who had been behind the draffting of the bill voiced out his concern that the Christian community had not competently thrown its weight behind the proposed bill. In his pursuit to woo the rest of the members to support the bill more strongly, he informed members that America and France had condemned the bill and it was therefore imperative that the church in Uganda voices its concerns because these are issues that affect ugandans. He proposed carrying out a massive campaign to popularize the bill through the media and bill boards. He was worried that the members of the parliament may compromise if the church and other religious leaders do not show their support for the bill given that a lot of money was changing hands.

THE ARREST OF PASTOR MICHAEL KYAZZE AND BOB KAYIIRA OF OMEGA HEALING CENTRE IS CONDEMNED

Pastor Ssempa of Makerere Community Church and other pastorn vehemently condemned the arrest of Pastor Michael Kyazze and Bob Kayiira both of Omega Healing Centre. Expressing his solidarity with pastor Kyazze – a fellow fighter in the war against sodomy he said that Pastor Michael Kyazze and Bob Kayiira had clean records and the charges against them were baseless and unfounded. In what he termed as trumped up charges, pastor Martin Ssempa said that by dragging his colleagues to the police was part of a much wider scheme of silencing them one by one so that they give up on their fight against sodomy which pastor Kayanja of Rubaga Miracle Centre was implicated. Pastor Ssempa said that there were some sections of the police that were bent to undermining the cause of justice and that the police had no credibility in handling the case. He reiterated his earlier sentiments by calling upon the president of the country to institute an independent commission of inquiry to look into the sodomy saga.

Pastor Male Solomon too expressed his concern that the police had mishandled the sodomy cases in the country. Out of the many cases over sodomy that police has handled, none of them had been conclusively concluded. He too casted a dark shadow on the credibility of the police handling sodomy cases creating a false impression to the public that sodomy was not a reality in Uganda yet it is in our midst. Asked whether his attack on Kayanja were jealously driven he said, “kayanja is just a small sodomy problem part of the much bigger, wider and complicated sodomy saga in the country.”

Pastor Michael Kyazze and Pastor Bob Kayiira were arrested at the Kampala Central Police Station when they responded to the calls by police for interrogation after Pastor Kayanja allegedly accused them of conspiracy and trespass. They were later on released on police bond where Pastor Martin Ssempa stood in as a surety for pastor Michael Kyazze and Pastor Male stood in as a surety for pastor Bob Kayiira.