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 Uganda |
MEDIA
MIRROR:
African
Scholar Opposes Ugandan Stance on Homosexuality
African
prominent intellectual professor Ali Mazrui opposes the view
held by Ugandan president Museveni that homosexuals should
be arrested and
prosecuted, Julius Mucunguzo from The Monitor (Kampala) reported
on 6 October 1999.
"The issues of homosexuality are self regarding acts.... they
may be matters for the church, but not for the head of state...
the almighty may judge, but not the state," Mazrui said this
while giving a key note address at an International Conference
on Constitutionalism in Africa organised by the Faculty of
Law Makerere University. "The governments of Yoweri Museveni
of Uganda and Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe attacking homosexuals
sound as though they are more concerned with homosexuality
than corruption," the grey haired political science scholar
said. President Museveni Sept. 27 while addressing a Reproductive
Health Conference at the ICC ordered police to arrest and
prosecute culprits of an alleged homosexual wedding in Wandegeya
mid last month. Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has also
been at the forefront of attacking homosexuals. "That shouldn't
be a matter for the president to make pronouncements on...
homosexuals and gays shouldn't be used as scapegoats. Intrusion
in the private lives of individuals is unconstitutional,"
Mazrui added. "We can support the values of the African family
without using homosexuals as
scapegoats." Asked whether he thought that president Yoweri
Museveni could have made the homosexual remarks to divert
attention on the agenda setting and matters for public debate,
Mazrui replied that: "I was also comparing in my mind the
situation of American president Bill Clinton who had a sexual
scandal, but tried to divert it with a war,
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