The
Kampala Observer and the
New York Times reported yesterday that Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni says he will sign the harsh Anti-Homosexuality Bill (
full text- apparently the final version) passed by Uganda's Parliament last December. (See
prior posting.) The announcement came in closing remarks at a retreat of Museveni's political party, the National Resistance Movement (NRM). Originally Museveni had reservations about signing the bill, but in his remarks (
full text) to the NRM Museveni explained his current decision:
The reason I had not signed the bill is to scientifically answer the question; are there people genetically born homosexual? For me, I had thought that since there were people born albino there could be people born homosexual.
But since the medical authorities, the department of genetics of the Medical School from Makerere, say there is no proof yet that people are homosexual by genetics, I told those scientists to put it in writing and they are going to do so. Then I will sign the bill.
Am taking all these precautions because am historically answerable for whatever I do as a leader. There were mistakes made in the 1930s by Hitler because he wanted to make Germany strong. Some of these issues are very crucial and should be handled objectively not emotionally....
I know we are going to have a big battle with outsiders, but I will be able to say I asked scientists and this is what they said. That homosexuals are normal people behaving abnormally.
In the United States, yesterday President Obama issued a statement (
full text) saying that he is "deeply disappointed" by the decision. He added: "enacting this legislation will complicate our valued relationship with Uganda." White House National Security Advisor Susan Rice
tweeted yesterday that she had spoken at length with Museveni to urge him not to sign the bill
