Opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) president Robert Kyagulanyi has said the Anti-Homosexuality law under formulation in Uganda is being pushed to divert public attention from critical issues but also to create a wedge between NUP and it’s funders in the western world.
Kyagulanyi made the remarks during an interview on Buganda Broadcasting Services Television (BBS) today where he was hosted to respond to several issues happening in Uganda especially in the realm of politics.
The musician-turned politician who has been severally branded as a sympathizer of the LGBTI community, used the show to defend himself claiming that his nemesis -the current president Yoweri Museveni has always used the Homosexual card to gain political mileage at the expense of NUPs image.
Kyagulanyi said it is not the first time president Museveni is using the Anti-Homosexuality law as a weapon against him whenever citizens are demanding for answers to the prevailing salient issues on corruption, human rights abuses and other failures in his government.
Bobi Wine who at first looked uneasy responding to the contentious issue, later picked up and made his position clear.
He said the matter is Museveni trying to blackmail him using all sorts of ways to box him into a tight corner, for the western world to consider his opposition political party as Anti-gay.
“Museveni agezaako okun-trickinga (he is trying to trick me) anteeke mu mbeera; azzeemu atya? ayogede atya?” he said in Luganda. He accused Museveni for using several groups including the clergy and the media to blackmail him and NUP for this purpose.
“Bakikozesa okukitwanbaza; either bantabule ne’bana’Uganda wanno, oba n’amawanga g’eBulaaya na ddala mu kiseera nga kino nga Museveni tumutusizza ku kisenge ku nsoga z’eddembe ly’obuntu; tumwambudde era bulaaya bamulaba kiki kyafuuse” He remarked saying the law s timely considering the bad record Museveni’s government has made recently with escalating cases of kidnaps and torture.
The Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2023 was this week tabled by opposition MP Asuman Basalirwa for the first reading and referred to the Legal Affairs committee for processing.
He said the re-introduction of the bill is meant to divert public attention from the current issues like the corruption scandals in the OPM including theft of iron sheets meant for Karamoja region.
Kyagulanyi said he is confident that even if the Anti-Homosexuality Bill is passed, Museveni will employ back-door means to block it’s implementation because he is using the law for his personal interests and not in public interest.
Kyagulanyi said as a parent, he is equally concerned about the rising cases of homosexuality in the country and challenged the first lady who is the Minister for Education to do more to fight homosexuality in schools.
He also scoffed at Western powers for cutting aid funding over homosexuality but not kidnaps or torture happening under Museveni government. Bobi wine said the practice proves the hypocrisy in leaders in the Western world who stand on the same podium with dictators but also claim to promote democracy and human rights.
On what he thinks is the plight of the reintroduced Bill, Bobi said;
“I am here and quote me well; the law is not being re-introduced in the interest of Ugandans… Even if they pass it, I can tell you Museveni will use his agents to challenge it and make sure it doesn’t proceed.” He challenged the moderator to find out who were behind the quashing of the Anti-Homosexuality Act 2014.
The 2014 law was challenged in court and quashed on a technicality following a petition filed by a journalist Andrew Mwenda and politician Hon Fox Odoi, for lack of quorum at its passing.
Bobi Wine challenged his critics asking his position on Homosexuality, to ask the same questions to Mwenda and Fox Odoi instead. He said he has been encouraging his colleagues in NUP to marry wives and may have done so and therefore he cannot be pro-homos.
“I have been at the forefront of promoting marriage and family among National Unity Platform. They (critics) are the same people who have been accusing us for holding weddings amidst a struggle” he quipped.