Uganda to ban 38 groups that promote gay rights

Colin Stewart is a 45-year journalism veteran. He is the…

Uganda plans to ban 38 groups it accuses of promoting homosexuality in the guise of promoting gay rights, Reuters reported.

Simon Lokodo, Uganda ethics minister (Photo courtesy of GayKenya.com)

Ethics Minister Simon Lokodo said the non-governmental organizations receive support from abroad for Uganda’s homosexuals, whom he accused of “recruiting” children into homosexuality. Reuters quoted Lokodo, a former Catholic priest, as saying:

“The NGOs are channels through which monies are channeled to (homosexuals) to recruit. …

“I have got a record of meetings that they have held to empower, enhance and recruit (homosexuals).”

He did not disclose a list of organizations that will be banned. One of them is Human Rights Network Uganda, Reuters said. Its director, Mohammad Ndifuna, characterized Lokodo’s threat as just one aspect of a larger attack on civil society in Uganda.

“We know that they have been all kinds of threats coming towards the (NGO) sector for different reasons,” he said.

Reuters added that last month Uganda threatened to de-register the British-based development group Oxfam “over accusations of government involvement in violent land grabs in the country.”

In February and earlier this week, Lokodo sent police to break up LGBT rights workshops. He also threatened legal action against a proposed conference at which religious and political leaders would discuss the effects of the country’s laws against homosexuality.

In March, gay rights activists sued him, saying that his actions violate their constitutionally guaranteed freedom of assembly.