The murder of David Kato, in his own home and by someone whom he knew, reminds us that, in Uganda as elsewhere in Africa, homophobia is encouraged and even legitimated by evangelical christianists from the United States.

The Americans involved said they had no intention of stoking a violent reaction. But the antigay bill was drafted shortly thereafter. Some of the Ugandan politicians and preachers who wrote it had attended those sessions and said that they had discussed the legislation with the Americans.

After growing international pressure and threats from a few European countries to cut assistance — Uganda relies on hundreds of millions of dollars of aid — Uganda’s president, Yoweri Museveni, indicated that the bill would be scrapped.

But more than a year later, that has not happened, and the legislation remains a simmering issue in Parliament. Some political analysts say the bill could be passed in the coming months, after a general election in February that is expected to return Mr. Museveni, who has been in office for 25 years, to power.

Surely this dabbling in foreign affairs gives grounds for rescinding 503(c)(1) status.

Drop me a line at rjk@dailyblague.com
This entry was posted on Friday, January 28th, 2011 at 10:30 am.