Uganda leader: If folks are born gay, I'll nix anti-gay bill

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

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni (Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has declared that he will not sign the harsh Anti-Homosexuality Bill unless scientists prove to him that homosexuality is an acquired behavior and that LGBT people are not “born that way.”

Museveni stated that position at a caucus of his NRM party on Jan. 24, The Observer of Uganda reported. Citing an unnamed source who attended the meeting, the Observerarticle stated:

” ‘He told us that his views against the law were influenced by a report by some gay rights activists whom he met recently. He said that those activists told him that gays were born just like albinos,’ the source said.

“But the MPs reacted by booing him. At times Museveni called the MPs to order, reminding the rowdy MPs that he was in charge. …

“He later suggested that a team of scientists should be set up to study the problem (homosexuality) and present a report to the NRM caucus during its February 6-16 retreat in Kyankwanzi.

” ‘Unless I have got confirmation from scientists that this condition is not genetic, but a behaviour that is acquired, I will not sign the bill,’ Museveni reportedly said, pushing the anti-gay ball into the court of a yet-to-be-established team.”

The next steps are uncertain in the process of approving, rejecting or modifying the bill, which would provide life sentences for repeated homosexual activity. The Observer noted:

Under Article 91(3) of the Constitution, the president has 30 days to assent to this bill, or return it to Parliament with a request that the bill or a particular provision be reconsidered. He could also notify the speaker in writing that he has refused to assent to it; which, he has already done.

Parliament, under Article 91(6) may reconsider the bill and pass it again and send it to the president again. If the president rejects the law twice, the speaker can cause a copy to be laid before the House for it to be passed into law, with a two-thirds majority, without presidential assent.

The bill was passed on December 20 and today is January 27. The speaker’s next course of action was not immediately clear.