Uganda opposition takes aim at anti-gay law

Agence France-Presse reports from Kampala, Uganda:

Kizza Besigye

Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye on Wednesday [Feb. 26] criticised tough new anti-gay laws, saying that homosexuality was not “foreign” and that the issue was being used to divert attention from domestic problems.

“Homosexuality is as Ugandan as any other behaviour, it has nothing to do with the foreigners,” said Besigye, who instead criticised foreign Christian evangelical groups for their “very rigorous activity” against gays. …

Besigye, who in recent years has been regularly blocked from holding rallies in public, is one of the first Ugandans who is not from the gay-rights community to criticise the law openly.

“Homosexuality has been documented in Uganda long before any foreign interference with our country,” he said. …

Besigye accused the government of having “ulterior motives” and using the issue to divert attention from other issues, including Uganda’s military backing of neighbouring South Sudan’s government against rebel forces.

“Whenever there are some controversial issues in the country, it is brought up and everybody talks about homosexuality,” he added, also noting “scandals of corruption”.

For more information, read the full AFP article in News24: “Uganda opposition: Homosexuality is not ‘foreign.’ “

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