Youth arrested over Museveni ‘80th’ birthday

A policeman arrests Mr Ismael Saddam, the leader of the group that was celebrating President Museveni’s birthday in Kampala on Wednesday. Photo by ABUBAKER LUBOWA

Police yesterday foiled a birthday celebration organised for President Museveni by a group of youth at the Constitutional Square in Kampala.
The group led by Mr Ismael Saddam and Mr Habib Mbowa, carried placards wishing the President a happy 80th birthday and denouncing his sole candidature. 
They also had a cake showing Mr Museveni’s age as 80 and donned yellow T-shirts with “Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi for presidency” written on. 
“We demand that Mr Museveni peacefully retires before 2016 and our president Amama Mbabazi, who is capable, stands in 2016,” Mr Saddam said as he was hauled away to Central Police Station.
“We will not allow Museveni to stand as NRM flag-bearer without a challenge from Mbabazi. Museveni is 80 years old but he claims he is 70,” he added.
The President celebrated his 70th birthday in Rwakitura on Sunday. 
The divisional police commander, Mr Henry Kintu, arrested the youth for distracting business in the city and for not seeking permission.

“We received information that there where people planning to celebrate the President’s birthday but they had not got permission. We couldn’t allow them to continue with their plans,” he said.

previous attempt
In 2011, Luweero Woman MP, then DP youth leader Brenda Nabukenya and other youth were arrested with a cake and gift bearing procession to Constitution Square where they planned to celebrate what they dubbed “President Museveni’s 73rd birthday”.

sdkafeero@ug.nationmedia.com

Joy, anger as Museveni signs law against gays

Pastor Martin Ssempa celebrates the signing of the Bill at the National Theatre in Kampala yesterday. Photo by Micheal Kakumirizi 

Entebbe- President Museveni yesterday signed the Anti-Homosexuality Bill into law, eliciting joy and condemnation across the world.

A tough-talking President told a fully-packed room at State House, Entebbe that western powers that have been pressuring him against signing the bill are social imperialists who want to impose their culture on Africans.

The President said supporters and promoters of homosexuality had “lost the argument” and warned development partners that Uganda was ready to live without aid.
“The outsiders cannot dictate to us. It’s our future and let them take their aid. In fact, it has been a problem,” he said.

A greater part of President Museveni’s speech dwelt on the scientific study done by 10 Ugandan scientists that concluded that homosexuals are “nurtured” and not “natural”.

“We reject the notion that homosexuality can be by choice. When I was fighting after the bill was passed, I didn’t’ know I was fighting a wrong war. I cannot understand why a person cannot be attracted to the beauties of women and go for men,” he said.

Mr Museveni said it was after getting this advice that he realised he was fighting a “wrong war”, adding that the practice was being fuelled by poverty.

“Many of our homosexuals are prostitutes,” said the President. “They are recruited because of money. There are no single nature-driven homosexuals. Nature without nurture, you cannot get homosexuals. Why don’t you remove this nurture and we rehabilitate them?”

Whereas Parliament passed the bill in December last year, the President initially hesitated to assent to it, at first citing the lack of quorum but later indicating he would seek expert scientific opinion.

At the just-concluded NRM party retreat at Kyankwanzi, the President announced he would sign the bill after scientists told him the practice is largely nurtured and not natural. 
Offering more advice yesterday, the President warned against oral sex, which he said exposes those involved to health risks.

“I hear some of them do oral sex. The mouth is for eating, not for sex. You can get gonorrhea of the mouth on account of oral sex. Why should you get diseases because of going to a wrong address?” he asked.

Mr Museveni said Africans survived slave trade, colonialists and would also “win the war” against homosexuality.

Moments after news spread that the President had assented to the bill, there were pockets of celebration in parts of downtown Kampala, with traders saying the law will protect their families.

At Omega Healing Centre children carried placards as they praised Museveni, Cabinet and Parliament for enacting the law.

The Church’s pastor, Michael Kyazze, told a congregation of mainly primary and secondary students: “President Museveni has saved you, the future generation.”

Renowned anti-homosexuality crusader Pastor Martin Ssempa, who led a group of followers in celebration at the National Theatre, said he would help rehabilitate homosexuals.
“As Kayihura (police chief) will be playing his part (of arresting), we shall also be playing our part of rehabilitating our brothers and sisters,” he said.

http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Joy--anger-as-Museveni-signs-law-against-gays/-/688334/2220400/-/ep9v42z/-/index.html