Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has spoken out against the persecution of gay people in the African nation, marking his first public comments on an anti-homosexuality bill being considered by the country’s government.
The President was quoted by the New Vision newspaper as saying: “If there are some homosexuals, we shall not kill or persecute them but there should be no promotion of homosexuality. We cannot accept promotion of homosexuality as if it is a good thing,”.
Museveni said there would be nothing wrong if gays carried out their affairs in private without declaring publicly that they are homosexuals, noting that he knew some traditional kings and chiefs who practiced homosexuality in secret without promoting it.
Stressing that all forms of sex are kept very private in Africa unlike western nations, the President said: “I have been married to my wife for 39 years, but I have never kissed her in public and in my house before the children. If I did it, I would lose elections and you know I am not about to accept that idea of losing elections.”
Museveni’s remarks came as the country’s government deliberate on an anti-homosexuality bill that has evoked strong criticism from most western nations, including the United States and the United Kingdom. The Ugandan parliament, which is yet to vote on the bill, has been adjourned until January, when it is expected to take the controversial measure for consideration.
