1n 1999, the then Uganda’s head of the Anglican Church, Archbishop Livingstone Mpalanyi-Nkoyooyo backed President Yoweri Museveni on his stand against homosexuals.
The Anglican head made this speech shortly after he had returned from the United States where he attended the Anglican Consultative Council. He said that the church in Uganda will remain firm on homosexuality.
He emphasized that Uganda is strongly opposed to homosexuality and many groups in the civil society have come out in the open to oppose it. The Archbishop told reporters at the airport that Friday, that the church will remain opposed to this inhuman act.
"Homosexuality is not only against the biblical teachings. It goes against the African culture and the order of nature," he said.
The Archbishop said while in the United States, he was taken to task over the Church’s stand and President Museveni’s views on homosexuals.
"I told them we are opposed to it," he said. "We cherish the biblical teaching of marriage between man and woman. We condemn this inhuman sex between man and man."
Many church leaders in Uganda and political activists have expressed concern over homosexuality in Uganda.
However, the magnitude of the problem in the Ugandan society has not been verified. Social workers however say, it is an age-old tradition which is just coming into the fore and a lot more needs to be done to curb its spread.
Police in Kampala on one occasion swung into action following President Museveni’s directive to arrest and lock-up homosexuals.
Uganda does not recognise gay rights. Homosexuality in Uganda is considered a criminal offence and is punishable by life imprisonment.
Under the Ugandan laws homosexuals may be charged under unnatural offences in section 140 of the penal code.
Edited by Robert Grace Kisenyi
Reference: Daily Nation, November 14, 1999 (excerpt)
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