Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill

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Conference
2014 National LGBT Conference
Date
1 August 2014
Decision
Carried as Amended

Conference notes that in 2010 the Ugandan newspaper ‘Rolling Stone’ published a list of 100 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people with their pictures set against a headline of ‘Hang Them’. The photograph of David Kato the founder of Sexual Minorities Uganda (SM-UG) featured prominently on the front page.

David, whilst actively fighting against the first attempt to introduce an Anti-Homosexuality Bill through the Ugandan parliament was assaulted and beaten with a hammer before dying on route to hospital.

In 2014, on a second attempt, the Bill passed into law despite the work of brave activists like David and international pressure. The legislation introduces life imprisonment as the legal sanction for homosexuality and it’s ‘promotion’.

After the Bill was signed history repeated itself with the Ugandan newspaper ‘Red Pepper running a headline ‘Uganda’s 200 top homos’ a story that listed 200 people’s names with accusations based on hearsay.

Conference condemns the legislature and media witch-hunts against LGBT people in Uganda which serves to create and support a pervasively hostile public opinion. It is imperative that the international LGBT community supports those living in fear of prosecution and violence in Uganda.

We call on the national LGBT committee to:

1. Promote the work of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) and SM-UG and promote membership of ILGA through Regional and Branch networks;

2. Liaise with UNISON’s national international committee to promote awareness of the Ugandan situation and encourage UNISON’s regional international committees to include this in their work programmes

3. Make every effort to work with the international committee in solidarity with other trades unions to eradicate this pernicious and homophobic law in Uganda, including the International Trades Union Congress, the Trades Union Congress, the European Federation of Public Services and Public Services International.

4. Continue to alert members of opportunities to support our LGBT brothers and sisters in Uganda and engage in dialogue with them to show our solidarity.

5. Lobby the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Members of Parliament and Labour Link over the introduction of the Bill and encourage them to raise the matter with Ugandan Government and its officials.