“We Are Watching You,” Says Kazimba Mugalu To Parliament Over the Anti Gay Bill

Dr. Samuel Stephen Kazimba Mugalu the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, says he wishes that he will be in the Parliament when the new Anti-Homosexual Bill is being considered. 

Rev. Stephen Samuel Kazimba Mugalu on Friday joined a number of Ugandan clergies that are supporting a private Member’s Bill moved by Member of Parliament, Asuman Basalirwa.

Reverend Mugalu told mourners at Justice Kenneth Kakuru’s thanksgiving that he will particularly be keen to see how Anglican Members of Parliament vote on the Bill.

The Reverend fears that some could choose to take money where they are bribed in order to vote against the Bill that was tabled just weeks after he wrote to the Church of England questioning some of its decisions most especially allowing clergy to preside at Blessings of Same-sex Unions and have approved supplemental prayers and liturgies for such occasions.

In a letter to the Church of England, Dr. Kazimba Mugalu accused it of having “departed from the Anglican faith and are now false teachers” We fear Jesus’ words for them, “If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.” (Rev 2.5b) It’s that serious” reads part of the letter.

Dr. Mugalu expressed fears that there have been counter-accusations that sections of groups are funding Members of Parliament to push for or against controversial legislation like the one at hand.

The constitutional court in 2014 invalidated the Anti-Homosexuality Act then moved by Ndorwa MP, David Bahati. The Judges found that Parliament violated its own procedural rules when it passed it without the requisite quorum.

In the message of Dr. Kazimba Mugalu to the Chief Justice, Alphonse Owiny-Dollo, and a number of judges said in the event that the current Bill is passed and challenged, the court should not cancel it.

The Speaker of Parliament Anita Among while referring Basalirwa’s Bill to the Committee on Legal Affairs, asked interested parties to submit their view on the Bill.

“We don’t want technicalities of saying there was no quorum. This is the time you are going to show us whether you are a homo or you are not. Let the public come and express their views. Including the homos” Said Among.

In 2021, Parliament approved the Sexual Offenses Bill which criminalized any “sexual act between persons of the same gender,” as well as anal sex between people of any gender, with up to 10 years in prison.

On August 3, 2021, President Yoweri Museveni rejected the Sexual Offenses Bill and returned it to Parliament, stating that it covered offenses already provided for in the Penal code.

On March 9, 2023, Asuman Basalirwa, a member of parliament, introduced the 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Bill in Parliament.

The introduction of the 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Bill is not the first time Parliament has attempted to recriminalize homosexuality since the 2014 Act was struck down.

Human Rights Watch observes that like its predecessor, the 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Bill expands on the criminalization of same sex acts, including broad prohibitions on acts such as touching another person “with the intention of committing the act of homosexuality.” People found guilty of the “offense of homosexuality” may be imprisoned for up to 10 years.

Also Read: LGBTQ Members invited by Parliament to Debate About Anti-Homosexuality bill