UGANDAN BISHOP CONDEMNS GAYS

A prominent Ugandan bishop has advised his government against legalising homosexuality, describing gays and lesbians as a “backward culture.”

Bishop Eria Paul Luzinda of the Mukono diocese described homosexuality and its practices as both backward and non-indigenous last Wednesday. The anti-homosexual statements were made during the Bishop’s address to the students of Centenary Community College in the sub-county of Kanyagu.

The speech was originally intended to help students by focusing on vocational and technical skills, but the lecture veered towards homosexuality.

In response to the gay activists arrested at an HIV/AIDS conference in Uganda last week, Luzinda stated that the legalisation of homosexuality was an absurd notion, quipping that “God created a man and woman so that they can produce and fill this world.”

“The government should not be tempted to legalise this backward culture which is bound to destroy this country,” said the Bishop who also opposed the decriminalisation of adultery in 2007.

The bishop appears to represent the opinions of many in the nation, as shown by an August 2007 poll that claimed over 95% of Uganda wants homosexual acts to remain illegal.

In 2005 Uganda became the first country in the world to introduce laws banning same-sex marriage.