In the News: The rights of sexual minorities – Africa in the spotlight

Jane Nishimwe, in her article, ‘Uganda: Away with unnatural, unafrican and ungodly beasts of the forest’, published in Jambonews.net, offers a critical analysis of the recently enacted law against sexual minorities in Uganda. She sees through the justifications and arguments undergirding the debate and the consequent endorsement of this rather controversial law.

Visu Kamor, in another article, ‘Homosexuality Campaign: A New Form of Western Imperialism’, published in the Daily Independent, rigorously argues against the West’s modus operandi vis-a-vis the homosexuality debate. He sees it as the West’s utilitarian catch-point to reinforce imperialist–paternalism toward Uganda and continuing to other African countries that may share legal and critical religio-cultural sentiments against such a practice.

Similarly, Uganda government spokesman Ofwono Opondo, quoted in the New Vision article ‘Uganda dismisses US sanctions for anti gay law’, defiantly postulates that the “US sanctions slapped on the country for tough anti-gay law would have little impact” and rejects the rights groups’ reports that such a legislation had led to a rise in assaults.

It is therefore becoming very critical to Africa that its positioning in question, within the global development fraternity, remains a vulnerable one, just like the livelihoods of millions of people still under development aid assistance.

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