Mens parlamentet i Kampala har udsat sin afstemning til januar om et kontroversielt lovforslag, der vil skærpe straffene for homoseksualitet, søger Yoweri Museveni at gøre alle tilpas og fortæller om høvdinge, der engang praktiserede homoseksualitet.
Uganda’s president has said gay people should not be killed or persecuted, as MPs continue to consider a controversial Anti-Homosexuality Bill, BBC online reports Tuesday.
The original version of the bill stipulated the death penalty for some homosexual acts but this has reportedly been dropped. Homosexual acts are illegal in Uganda.
The president was careful to neither condemn the bill nor openly support it.
The bill has been condemned by Western donors, who have suggested that aid could be cut if it is passed.
Speaker of parliament Rebecca Kadaga recently said the bill would be passed as a “Christmas gift” to its advocates. However, parliament has adjourned until January without voting on it.
Even if MPs do approve the bill, Mr Museveni would have to sign it before it takes effect.
Some African opponents of homosexuality have said it was introduced to the continent by European colonisers.
However, Mr Museveni said he knew of traditional kings and chiefs who practised homosexuality, but that they did it in secret and did not promote it.
He said that all forms of sex were kept private in Africa, unlike in Western societies.
In 2011, activist David Kato was beaten to death but police denied this was related to his sexuality.
