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.