Homosexuality is against our culture
As homosexuals in Uganda demand recognition, many religious leaders have come out to criticise the act. Pastor Martin Sempa, one of the anti-gay activists, recently wrote to the Director of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights Programme at the Human Rights Watch, Scott Long...
As homosexuals in Uganda demand recognition, many religious leaders have come out to criticise the act. Pastor Martin Sempa, one of the anti-gay activists, recently wrote to the Director of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights Programme at the Human Rights Watch, Scott Long. Below is his letter...
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Dear Mr. Long,
Your August 23 letter to President Museveni and press release complaining about Uganda’s laws and policies regarding homosexuals contains flawed logic, numerous errors and misrepresentations. In addition, it shows an unacceptable lack of respect for Uganda’s culture and values.
First you talked about our church, Makerere Community Church, as a recipient of PEPFAR HIV/AIDS funding. The fact is that Makerere Community Church has never received funding. And even if we did in the future, getting donor funding in no way obliges us to change our laws and values as a people. We are a proud African race whose faith, values and cultures have been handed down for many generations.
You also state that we burned condoms to discourage people from using them in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The truth is that condoms failed us massively. What you are talking about was a batch of more than 40 million Ngabo condoms, which were found to be faulty and defective and had to be recalled and destroyed.
As you are aware, just recently the South African government recalled millions of condoms because they too were faulty. We encourage you to deal in facts, not opinions or speculations.
What you characterise as “harassment†of homosexuals or “threatening statements†by high government officials is in reality nothing more than the enforcement of the laws of our country prohibiting homosexual activity.
These laws reflect our culture and the sentiments of the vast majority of our people. As a sovereign nation, we not only have the right, but also the obligation to enact laws that are supported by the vast majority of our people and reflect our culture and these values.
Last week, Steadman and associates carried out a research which showed that an overwhelming majority of Ugandans, 95%, find homosexuality morally repugnant and absolutely unacceptable to our culture. Democratic principle of governance mandates our government to make laws consistent with the values and aspirations of our people.
These laws are also necessary to protect innocent people, including the youth, who may be tempted to engage in risky sexual behaviour and who are sometimes the victims of these acts. We have far too many instances of innocent people who have been victims of homosexual abuse.
A case in point is Benjamin Buloba who was sodomised and bled to death on October 15, 2004. Post mortem indicated much trauma to his rectum and he is reported having died, trying to put toilet paper in his rectum. It would be irresponsible of us to repeal these laws, if for no other reason than to try to protect people from this kind of activity and to vigorously prosecute and punish those who commit these crimes.
Even more troubling is the implication in your letter that because your organisation disagrees with these laws, we should somehow simply ignore them and not enforce them. To criticise our government officials and even our President because they have spoken out in support of the enforcement of our duly passed laws is completely unacceptable. Ugandans decide Ugandan laws and policies, not special interest outside NGOs.
Your letter also asserts that homosexuals are entitled to certain “rights†and that these “rights†are being violated by the enforcement of our laws. We reject this assertion as it is obviously based on the false assumption that homosexual individuals are somehow “born that way†and that homosexuality is innate and immutable and therefore are entitled to special rights. I know from my own experience that homosexuality is not innate and immutable.
In my own congregation, there are a number of people who have reoriented from homosexuality to heterosexuality.
As I know you are aware, there is a great deal of psychological research that proves conclusively that sexual reorientation is possible for many people. I suggest that you visit the Website of the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (www.narth.org) to review this literature.
I can certainly understand why organisations like yours want people to think that homosexuality is fixed, like race, and cannot be changed, because you know that would make people more sympathetic to your “sexual rights†agenda which conflicts with the strong family values of Uganda.
However, the Ugandan people will not be fooled. Ugandans who struggle with same- sex attraction have the same civil rights as all other Ugandans. I believe strongly that they should be treated as everyone else, with equal dignity and respect.
However, that does not mean that we are willing, nor are we obligated in any way, to give these individuals special “rights†based on the “concerns†of your organisation. This is especially true because to do so would only encourage and reinforce a behaviour which has been confirmed by medical and social science data to be not only unhealthy for individuals, but also for society.
One final point that I find very upsetting and completely unjustified is your lecturing us on reducing the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Uganda has been a leader in reducing the rate of infection, and we have done it almost entirely by stressing abstinence before marriage and fidelity after marriage. To suggest that we are not doing a good job with our young people is simply not supported by the facts. To also suggest that because our HIV/AIDS prevention programmes do not cater specifically for homosexuals is to suggest that not only should we condone their sexual behaviour, but that they have some special right to engage in risky behaviour that actually spreads this disease.
We are committed to providing counselling and treatment to all people who suffer with sexual addictions as well as homosexual struggles. As stated above, we have many in our midst who have experienced redemption and change. We promise help for everybody struggling with homosexual feelings “for those who are willing, there is healingâ€.
I strongly suggest that you refrain from attempting to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries. However, if you cannot resist the urge to do so, I suggest that you at least get your facts straight.
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Dear Mr. Long,
Your August 23 letter to President Museveni and press release complaining about Uganda’s laws and policies regarding homosexuals contains flawed logic, numerous errors and misrepresentations. In addition, it shows an unacceptable lack of respect for Uganda’s culture and values.
First you talked about our church, Makerere Community Church, as a recipient of PEPFAR HIV/AIDS funding. The fact is that Makerere Community Church has never received funding. And even if we did in the future, getting donor funding in no way obliges us to change our laws and values as a people. We are a proud African race whose faith, values and cultures have been handed down for many generations.
You also state that we burned condoms to discourage people from using them in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The truth is that condoms failed us massively. What you are talking about was a batch of more than 40 million Ngabo condoms, which were found to be faulty and defective and had to be recalled and destroyed.
As you are aware, just recently the South African government recalled millions of condoms because they too were faulty. We encourage you to deal in facts, not opinions or speculations.
What you characterise as “harassment†of homosexuals or “threatening statements†by high government officials is in reality nothing more than the enforcement of the laws of our country prohibiting homosexual activity.
These laws reflect our culture and the sentiments of the vast majority of our people. As a sovereign nation, we not only have the right, but also the obligation to enact laws that are supported by the vast majority of our people and reflect our culture and these values.
Last week, Steadman and associates carried out a research which showed that an overwhelming majority of Ugandans, 95%, find homosexuality morally repugnant and absolutely unacceptable to our culture. Democratic principle of governance mandates our government to make laws consistent with the values and aspirations of our people.
These laws are also necessary to protect innocent people, including the youth, who may be tempted to engage in risky sexual behaviour and who are sometimes the victims of these acts. We have far too many instances of innocent people who have been victims of homosexual abuse.
A case in point is Benjamin Buloba who was sodomised and bled to death on October 15, 2004. Post mortem indicated much trauma to his rectum and he is reported having died, trying to put toilet paper in his rectum. It would be irresponsible of us to repeal these laws, if for no other reason than to try to protect people from this kind of activity and to vigorously prosecute and punish those who commit these crimes.
Even more troubling is the implication in your letter that because your organisation disagrees with these laws, we should somehow simply ignore them and not enforce them. To criticise our government officials and even our President because they have spoken out in support of the enforcement of our duly passed laws is completely unacceptable. Ugandans decide Ugandan laws and policies, not special interest outside NGOs.
Your letter also asserts that homosexuals are entitled to certain “rights†and that these “rights†are being violated by the enforcement of our laws. We reject this assertion as it is obviously based on the false assumption that homosexual individuals are somehow “born that way†and that homosexuality is innate and immutable and therefore are entitled to special rights. I know from my own experience that homosexuality is not innate and immutable.
In my own congregation, there are a number of people who have reoriented from homosexuality to heterosexuality.
As I know you are aware, there is a great deal of psychological research that proves conclusively that sexual reorientation is possible for many people. I suggest that you visit the Website of the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (www.narth.org) to review this literature.
I can certainly understand why organisations like yours want people to think that homosexuality is fixed, like race, and cannot be changed, because you know that would make people more sympathetic to your “sexual rights†agenda which conflicts with the strong family values of Uganda.
However, the Ugandan people will not be fooled. Ugandans who struggle with same- sex attraction have the same civil rights as all other Ugandans. I believe strongly that they should be treated as everyone else, with equal dignity and respect.
However, that does not mean that we are willing, nor are we obligated in any way, to give these individuals special “rights†based on the “concerns†of your organisation. This is especially true because to do so would only encourage and reinforce a behaviour which has been confirmed by medical and social science data to be not only unhealthy for individuals, but also for society.
One final point that I find very upsetting and completely unjustified is your lecturing us on reducing the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Uganda has been a leader in reducing the rate of infection, and we have done it almost entirely by stressing abstinence before marriage and fidelity after marriage. To suggest that we are not doing a good job with our young people is simply not supported by the facts. To also suggest that because our HIV/AIDS prevention programmes do not cater specifically for homosexuals is to suggest that not only should we condone their sexual behaviour, but that they have some special right to engage in risky behaviour that actually spreads this disease.
We are committed to providing counselling and treatment to all people who suffer with sexual addictions as well as homosexual struggles. As stated above, we have many in our midst who have experienced redemption and change. We promise help for everybody struggling with homosexual feelings “for those who are willing, there is healingâ€.
I strongly suggest that you refrain from attempting to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries. However, if you cannot resist the urge to do so, I suggest that you at least get your facts straight.