Kampala

UGANDA is experiencing an internationally orchestrated crescendo of demands for "rights" by the homosexual fraternity: male, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and transvestite. Essentially, these "rights" reduce to only one; the absolute, non-negotiable, "right" to enjoy sexual pleasure man with man, woman with woman; with the bisexual exploiting the pleasures of both worlds and the trans gender coveting and securing the sexual pleasures which both God and his or her heterosexual parents did not give him or her.

The transvestite is apparently ambivalent as to which sexual genus to firmly pursue, but fits him or herself somehow. Thus this alleged right is pure sexual hedonism or the relentless pursuit of sexual pleasure for its own sake. The gays' claim to legitimatised same sex unions or marriages is purely ancillary to the sexual pleasures and is merely an insurance or security for accessing and enjoying same sex sexual pleasures. What is implicit here is a claim to the 'right to sex' and this should be readily conceded as a human right, which is universally-accepted. However, the mode of sexual activity is a societal, rather than a human right and can only be sanctioned by the community in accordance with the moral, cultural, religious or legal norms of that particular community. Sodomy and lesbianism are modes of sex and are, therefore, subject to societal regulation by sanction or prohibition in conformity with a community's interests.

Surprisingly, the gays and lesbians are claiming their sexual orientations as a "human right" and are seeking to coerce Ugandans into stamping the national seal of approval on these weird practices. But for the majority of Ugandans, this demand is uncompromisingly unacceptable. They could suffer the moral and cultural outrage silently, but asking them to applaud the sexual deviations goes against the grain.

A right being an entitlement to own, possess, do or say something, or else, forbear, the homosexual fraternity maintain they are entitled to sodomise men and the lesbians do adopt masculine sexual postures (whatever they do). And their rationale for this?

"Well, that is what we want and how we want it." But the majority of Ugandans see this as sexuality gone mad and reject it. Wanting something is not socially or nationally a sufficient reason for a community to sanction something. The next demand could be the decriminalisation of bestiality (sex with animals) or the laws against adultery or incest. The demand for homosexuality and lesbianism and their related activities must be firmly resisted on the ground that these practices violate the cultural, religious, moral, and legal norms (the Penal Code) of the country. They erode the societal and national standards of decency.

These people, being products of heterosexual unions, nevertheless pursue practices which rule out procreation, except for the bisexual. They are thus, a sexually predatory group of citizens who pursue sexual pleasure without any social or moral conscience for the continuance and survival of Ugandans. Like the former King Louis XIV of France, their attitudes to this eventual weakening of the nation is Après nous le deluge: meaning, after I have gone the catastrophe will come, but it will not affect me. The probability that the heterosexual Ugandans will always be there to replenish the country's numbers does not absolve the homosexuals. A citizen's responsibility for the national interest cannot be shifted.

Homosexuals, lesbians and their cohorts are, in this respect, avowed libertines without regard for the national or public interest. In any case, heterosexual progeny or none, she would be a short-sighted woman who raised chicken, but allowed her neighbour to habitually steal the eggs. As presented by its crusaders, the right, if it is one to same-sex sexual relations and unions, is self-evident and calls for no debate, but only for recognition by everyone, especially the Government and Parliament, who must act and decriminalise same-sex sexual relations and legitimise same-sex marriages. But then laws are passed or amended for their contribution to the common good or benefit of the people. And yet homosexuality, lesbianism and the like, are patently against the moral, cultural, religious and national interests.

In other words, the national accounts of the homosexual fraternity are heavily overdrawn. The Government and Parliament must maintain the legal screws on these unnatural habits which their possessors glorify as respectable orientations. Uganda must not recognise, sanction, protect or promote sodomy or lesbianism by legislation. And gay and lesbian practices are ill winds which blow nobody any good; not even the gays and the lesbians themselves, if only they knew. The practices are not rights as such, but sexual appetites whose adverse effects on the public must be erased. Not every natural capability should be given free rein: You are not to assault someone because you are a Goliath. This is the essence of civilised living.

Without personal discipline and fortified morals, Ugandans could eventually disappear like the ancient Romans did. Perhaps the best that the homosexual and lesbian fraternity could do for themselves and the country is to maroon themselves on some island in Lake Victoria, where their sexual passions would consume them into extinction after about 100 years. This is not homophobia, but sound, social and demographic planning

It should be realised that the Constitution and the law correctly provide for the protection of the legitimate interests and human rights of all Ugandans. It is only the gay and lesbian deviations, to which the majority of Ugandans object, which are not provided for.. Perhaps the issue should be put to a referendum, if the gay and lesbian crusaders are prepared to finance it so that the matter is decided upon democratically.

Finally, a disclaimer - gays and lesbians are our kith and kin and are true Ugandans who should never be discriminated against in the administration of public services. Discriminating against them on the grounds of their sexual orientation would be nationally undesirable and distinctly unChristian.

The writer is the Chairman Uganda Land Commission

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