PUBLIC OUTINGS IN UGANDA

A campaign for forced public “outings” of alleged LGBT individuals in Uganda is growing, with recent allegations that popular Catholic priest and gospel singer Fr. Anthony Musaala is gay.

According to Paul Kagaba, a “self-confessed former homosexual”, Musaala regularly holds parties for gays at his residence in Gayaza near Kampala.

Kagaba was speaking at a press conference which was held at anti-gay crusader Pastor Martin Ssempa’s Redeemed Church at Makerere.

In attendance was another “reformed” homosexual, George Oundo, and Pastor Solomon Male, an anti-gay activist.

Musaala denied the accusations, and said that Kagaba’s intention is to damage his image because he is a public figure. “Whatever they say, I am not gay and I will never be gay. I am only a minister of the Roman Catholic Church.”

Meanwhile, according to the Associated Press, a protest for LGBT rights in Kampala saw only 20 or so people turn out for the event.

“We are law-abiding citizens. We deserve equal rights and protection under the law and constitution,” said lesbian activist Jacqueline Masha at the protest.

Over the past few weeks, allegations of ‘recruitment’ into homosexuality have been levelled against gays and lesbian in Uganda by a number of individuals and institutions.

In statement released today, various LGBTI Ugandans refuted the claims: “Homosexual Ugandans do not condone or support recruitment of people into homosexuality at any level. We strongly and fiercely condemn it.”

They added: “We know that sexual orientation is not changeable. We are homosexuals and cannot change. In the same way, we cannot change heterosexuals into homosexuals. We cannot recruit. We cannot, do not, have never, and will never ‘recruit’.”

The group also denied claims that LGBT Ugandans “receive huge amounts of money for the so called ‘recruitment’ services”, saying that the allegation is ridiculous. “We do not receive any money for ‘recruitment’. It is absurd that some assume we would be paid to do something impossible.”

Homosexuality is illegal in Uganda and carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.