UGANDA OPPOSES LESBIAN GROUP

In an unsurprising move, the Ugandan government has opposed the recognition of a lesbian group, the Coalition of African Lesbians (CAL), as an “official observer” by the African Union (AU).

According to the New Vision website, Ugandan Foreign Service Officer Rosette Nyirinkindi made Uganda’s position clear on a bid by the Coalition of African Lesbians (CAL) to be recognised by the African body at a meeting of the permanent representatives committee.

“The African Charter and the Constitutive Act setting up the AU tell us to protect African values among our key objectives. These (gay rights) are alien to our culture and values. We shall continue to resist and fight them because common sense dictates against them. They are outlawed in Uganda and most African countries,” she said.

CAL was founded in 2003 and describes itself as “a network of organisations committed to African lesbian equality and visibility”.

African heads of state are meeting in Kampala, Uganda for the 15th AU summit until tomorrow. It is unclear when or if a vote will be taken on CAL’s status.

A controversial bill that would entrench the criminality of LGBT people and impose the death penalty in certain cases of homosexual conduct is pending in the Ugandan parliament. Existing penalties for gay sex include life imprisonment.