Ugandan Anti-gay Law: Should The West Punish The Country For It?



Anti-gay law protesters

Uganda is the latest African Country to pass anti-gay law after Nigeria.  The new legislation prohibits homosexual acts and offenders will face prosecution and possibly a lengthy jail term.   Homosexuals in the country now have two options.  They should practice their homosexuality in secret or defy the law and risk prosecution and jail term.  The west are not happy over this law and have threatened to punish Uganda by withdrawing its financial aid to the country.

Before justifying or criticising the west for its intention to punish Ugandan for its anti-gay law it is important to understand the issue of homosexuality in Africa.  Homosexuality is one of the few issues in Africa which tends to unite the vast majority of people on the continent regardless of their religiosity.   The Moslems, Christians, Hindus, and pagans all tend to support legislations against homosexuality.  For them, homosexuality is a western immoral act which should not be allowed to pervade African society.  For the fact that Uganda is part of Africa, Ugandans will also share similar views about gays and lesbians.

That notwithstanding, the western attitude towards Uganda over the anti-gay legislation is understandable.  The west is bankrolling the country and has every right to make sure that this aid is put into good use.  After all, there is a saying that goes “he who pays the piper dictates its tones”.

If it does not want the west to interfere in its affairs, Uganda should stop receiving financial aid packages from the west.  But can a poor country such as Uganda survives without the support of the west?  As long as it continues to receive aids from them, Uganda should be prepared to dance to the tones of its western masters.

I must state that I am not a supporter of the Ugandan anti-gay law neither am I an advocate for anti-gay legislation anywhere on African continent.  I respect the right of Africans to express their sexuality regardless of whether it is homosexuality.  However, I am not in support of the pressure the west is putting on Uganda because of the anti-gay legislation.  I want Ugandans to determine their own future. 

In my view, the current attitude of the west towards Uganda over this anti-gay law is nothing more than blackmail.  United States, Britain and Norway have already stated that they were cutting their aids to Uganda.  Sweden has also stated that it was considering the workability of its new trade negotiations with Uganda following the new legislation.  The west should not go down this route. 

Until recently, homosexuality was also a taboo in the west.  In the United Kingdom, for example, homosexuality was a crime even up until 1950’s.  Any person found guilty of homosexual act during this period was either imprisoned or castrated or both.   Likewise in the United States, homosexuals in the military were prohibited by law from declaring their homosexuality.  It was just only last year that this restriction was lifted and gays and lesbians in the U.S military can now openly declare their sexuality.  This is just to mention but a few.

When homosexuality was illegal in these countries, United States and Britain were not bullied by any state.  For the fact that homosexuality is now accepted in these countries does not mean that the practice should automatically be embraced by all countries around the world.  I have no doubt that with time the attitude of African governments and people would change, and the act of homosexuality will be protected by African law.