UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima has explained why Uganda’s president Gen Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni must not assent to the recently passed Anti-Homosexuality Bill.
On Tuesday, May 09, Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka had a meeting with Byanyima, a UN civil servant who is also opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye’s wife, in which the issue was discussed, with both sides emphasizing their respective positions.
The UN in Uganda Resident Coordinator Susan Namondo and Jotham Mubangizi, who is responsible for Strategic Information at UNAIDS in Uganda, also attended the meeting that happened in the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs (MoJCA) boardroom.
According to MoJCA, the UNAIDS ED and the Ugandan AG had a discussion on the impacts of the recently passed Anti Homosexuality Bill by Parliament on UNAIDS services to Ugandans.
Byanyima expressed strong reservations about the bill, arguing that it’s not necessary because it negatively impacts the gains Uganda made in fighting AIDS, especially to the LGBTQ people in Uganda. She also noted that Uganda has enough laws on that same issue.
After the meeting, Byanyima went on to emphasize the UNAIDS position which is backed by the need to consolidate the gains made in the fights against HIV/AIDS as well as the universality of human rights.
“UNAIDS has warned that the Anti-Homosexuality Act may reverse gains made against AIDS & increase human rights violations against LGBTQI people. We urged AG to analyze and advise government on health, human rights, and economic impacts. We must not forget that LGBTQI people are also human beings with rights. The AHA will only increase discrimination, violence and stigma against them, and undermine progress made against AIDS. Courageous leadership is needed now more than ever,” she wrote.
“As the world marks the 75th year of the [Universal Declaration of Human Rights] UDHR, we affirm that human rights are universal and apply to all people. UNAIDS urges Uganda to respect these principles and ensure non-discrimination, health, and dignity for all.”
In his remarks, AG Kiwanuka emphasized that the bill was a reflection of the sentiment of Ugandans as expressed through their elected representatives who legislated on this matter specifically to address the changing societal challenges in order to criminalize aspects that weren’t covered by the existing laws, for example; to discourage the deliberate recruitment of minors and to protect them.
He also emphasized that the bill does not in any way stop anyone or any organisation from extending HIV and or AIDS services to any person. The two leaders agreed to continue engaging on the different emerging issues that are relevant to Uganda.
It should be remembered that for a second time, Ugandan MPs recently passed the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, in what looked like an ‘IF WE DIE WE DIE’ vow, making it clear to the US, European Union, and the rest of the Western World that homosexuality would not be forced onto Ugandans. (See Details Here).
Before Parliament passed the bill, the US Government had threatened to withdraw funding to Uganda if MPs passed the Anti-Homosexuality Bill. The decision by the US was seen as an ‘ACCEPT or DIE’ warning to Uganda since withdrawal of US AIDS support would mean that hundreds of thousands of HIV/AIDS patients would die since they cannot afford ARVS, for example. (See Details Here).
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