Dispute over LGBTI clinics in Uganda

Colin Stewart is a 45-year journalism veteran living in Southern…

Simon Lokodo, Uganda ethics minister (Photo courtesy of Gayvasion.com) — Simon Lokodo, Uganda ethics minister: “We shall arrest these people.” (Photo courtesy of Gayvasion.com)

Are health clinics for LGBT people in Uganda a step in the right direction, or a misstep?

Outrage, scepticism at Uganda U-turn on LGBTI clinics

KAMPALA, 9 December 2013 (IRIN) – Eighteen months after slamming activists who opened a clinic for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people in Kampala, Uganda’s health ministry has decided it was a good idea after all and has begun setting up similar facilities, prompting outrage from the Ministry for Ethics and Integrity and scepticism from some in civil society.

The U.S. embassy likes the idea:

“We strongly encourage them to ensure that these populations are not stigmatized and are respected under the Ugandan constitution, which guarantees equal rights for all minorities,” Daniel Travis, spokesperson for US Mission Uganda, told IRIN.

Rabidly anti-gay Ethics Minister Simon Lokodo hates the idea, of course:

“We shall not tolerate these clinics. To open these clinics is a recipe for recognizing these behaviours, which are totally unacceptable. We are not obliged to encourage these acts,” Lokodo told IRIN. …

“We shall arrest these people in these clinics and send them for treatment as culprits,” he said.
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LGBT activists are worried:

Pepe Julian Onziema of Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG), a local rights group, echoed these concerns: “It’s good to know that the MoH [Ministry of Health] is making this move. It shows that they’re taking service provision for all to another level. However, I’m afraid that opening specific clinics to cater for CSW [commercial sex workers] and MSM people will only contribute to further stigma and discrimination.” …

“Everyone will know where to find a homosexual, making it easy for homosexual haters to pounce… Clinics should be generally inclusive.”

For more information, read the full IRIN article Outrage, scepticism at Uganda U-turn on LGBTI clinics.