In the seventies I met judge G. in Nairobi who was the preceptor of king X of Uganda. He told me of the tradition of sending young males to the court to be at the service of the kings and receive protection for their communities instead. Much like the intore in neighboring kingdoms. King X gave a miniature R&R; as a token of his love to th judge. The tragedy was and is the influence of Pauliism in Africa , with the martyrs of Uganda in evidence. Even the separation between "gays" and "straights" is imported from backwarded European countries.

Conservative MP Margot James has urged for the world’s politicians to promote gay rights at a Westminster conference that was chaired by Uganda’s anti-gay Speaker Rebecca Kadaga. Last week, Ms Kadaga claimed the country’s notorious Anti-Homosexuality Bill would soon be passed by lawmakers and the Ugandan MP confirmed that she had no intention of blocking the legislation, which proposes barbaric sentences for those convicted. Speaking on Tuesday at the International Parliamentary Conference on Gender and Politics held in Westminster at Portcullis House, London, Stourbridge MP Margot James urged delegates from over 40 different nations to promote gay rights in their countries. After speaking in the debate on the use of quotas to ensure greater parliamentary representation for women, Ms James challenged female legislators in the Commonwealth to confront homophobic persecution. “We agree on the need for more women in our parliaments and governments, but we also need to reflect on why we need more women to be elected, a greater defence of freedoms and human rights is needed,” said Ms James. “As a gay woman I would not be able to even stand for election in many of the countries represented here today, and the situation is even more dire for gay men in so much of the Commonwealth. She added: “I urge the women legislators here today to stand up for the gay minority in your country and remember those who, like women are discriminated against, and bring that discrimination to an end.”

Here is the link ....http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2012/11/07/ugandan-anti-gay-speaker-chairs-london-human-rights-conference/

ESCAPE FROM THE POLICE IMMANUEL DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION UGANDA ESCAPED FROM THE POLICE RAID AS WE HELP THEY YOUTH GAYS AND LESBIANS CONFERENCE AND ACTIVISM. IT WAS A DARK NIGHT ON SATURDAY WHEN THE POLICE ATTACKED AND SCATTERED ALL MEMBERS AT THE REGENCY HOTEL KABUSU WHILE WE WERE DISCUSSING ISSUES ON HOW WE CAN CREAT AWARENESS ON ILGA RIGHTS AND ALSO HOW TO SUPPORT VARIOUS YOUTH WHO ARE MEMBERS. THE POLICE CONFISCATED OUR PA MACHINES AND THE DIRECTORS WERE ARRESTED SO WE REALLY CALL UPON THE MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY TO JOIN US IN BAILING OUT OUR 3 MEMBERS THE COURT REQUESTED US TO PAY BAIL OF 4000 DOLLARS SO WE ARE WORKING THIS OUT AND ANY WELL WISHERS CAN HELP, ALSO WE ARE LOOKING FOR A LAWYER TO HELP OUR MEMBERS WITH THIS CASE HERE IN UGANDA AND ANY HELP WILL BE APPRECIATED.

The rest of the world should help look into the situation in Uganda and the current bill against gays that is being tabled in parliament.Problem also is that many of the gay people are just talkers.They talk the talk but cannot walk the walk.People are so scared about losing their lives and being discriminated that they are forced to live double lives.So many are depressed and have nowhere to turn to and with time,i will not be surprised if there is a high rate of suicides occuring in my country Uganda.Anyway,i hope the situation gets better soon which i really do not think will happen but hey,what can one do other than stay positive even in a negative situation?

In a democracy, one has to allow room and space to listen to the other side arguing their case. Much the same way is expected for one to be listened to. The Anti Homosexuality Bill, 2009 as well as 2 other stigmatizing and discriminating bills (The HIV Bill and Equal Opportunities Bill)will continue to find their way on the floor of parliament. Even as a practicing physician, the volunteer spirit to treat the "gay" will be stepped upon! There is a fear of repercussions for such reaching out. As long as the HIV Bill,2009 is still mentioned ( like yesterday, 07/02/2012) morale, motivation and effort to roll back HIV/STIs will also die!!

MICROBICIDE INFORMATION CENTER IN UGANDA, LAUNCHED IN UGANDA ON 04 FEBRUARY 2012


BACKGROUND:

MARPS IN UGANDA is involved at various spaces sharing on; Capacity building, organisation development, Sexuality, orientation, gender, identity, microbicides, HIV, cancer, Female genital mutilation and other issues. Calls for repeat sessions on such subjects like; microbicides continue coming in. Today, after activities during the World cancer-day in Uganda we have decided to launch our "microbicide information center".

6P’s make up our concept: Understanding Policy, intensifying Programmes, identifying all Players, Providing education and enabling Participation to Popularise microbicides in Uganda.

We hope to reach 800 key leaders with the lubes, condom and microbicide messages by December 2012. These in turn will reach many others. We hope to popularise acceptability in a network with 350 persons by December 2012 if all goes well. Microbicides, especially rectal microbicides are anti-HIV decision-support tools in the hands of marginalised.

UNDERSTANDING A MICROBICIDE:
Microbicide /mi•cro•bi•cide/ (mi-kro´bĭ-sīd):
1. a substance that destroys microbes.
2. a substance that destroys infectious agents, including also viruses; sometimes used specifically for that used to prevent transmission of sexually transmitted diseases.

HOW MICROBICIDE INFORMATION HAS BEEN POPULARISED:
1. We have used meetings (e.g., National consultative meetings) to share information on microbicides. This has been possible because MARPS IN UGANDA is part of the large CSO Network in Uganda. It takes lead on MSM. WSW, TG, Substance users and PLHIV. It as well takes lead on providing evidence in form of reports on all most at risk populations (MARPs) in Uganda. These include but not limited to: fisher-folk, sex-workers, truckers, discordant couples, persons in long term relations, PLHIV, MSM and Uniformed services Personnel. Given the vast networks within which we work, we have also interacted with: mobile communities, displaced persons, disabled persons, young persons, men and women.
2. We work with school and non-school going communities and with these we did design schedules on talks around: sexual and reproductive health. We use these spaces to introduce topics such as, microbicides.
3. We are a lead organisation promoting the eradication of violence, violations, abuse, discrimination and stigma in communities due to for instance: sexuality, orientation, gender and identity. Through these spaces we share on microbicides.
4. We link with various organisations under the capacity building contracts. While we train, we also introduce issues around Microbicides.
OUTCOMES: We have become a lead organisation, voluntarily providing information on microbicides in Uganda.

VULNERABILITY SPECTRUM

BACKGROUND: A systematic review of responses from 30,000 spaces was carried out in 10 regions of Uganda.
OBJECTIVE: A systematic review of responses from 30,000 spaces where inquiry into who MARPs are, what MARPs need, who provides services, what is demanded, what are the behavioural characteristics unique to MARPs and other contexts influencing issues of MARPs that was conducted between July 2010-August 2011.
DESIGN: Conduct Review of literature, Interviews, structured conversation and focus group discussions. Respondents were drawn from; 150 farmer groups, 220 hair salons, 27 landing sites, 27 police posts, 110 cattle/village markets/social spaces, 225 major RH/FP/MH/CS/Health Services organisations, with leaders and members of 100 FBOs/2200 CBOs/CSOs/Community Groups, 2,550 lower level governments and communities, with members of 3,000 men/Women groups/settings, in 19,174 trading and urban spaces (Artisanry marts, car dealerships, repair garages, washing bays, food vending kiosks, video kiosks, shopping malls, recreational spaces) along 6 major trunk roads and 25 other roads leading to rural districts, 250 educational institutes (higher institutions of learning, colleges, senior/primary schools), 100 minorities’ spaces, 72 fresh foods markets, 200 hotels/lodges, 25 housing estate areas ( e.g. Jinja industrial area, Kampala, Gulu, Mbarara, Kasese, Tororo, Mbale), 170 ludo/snooker points, 1,700 storage and parking bays/car-park/boda/lorry/bus-parks in urban settings.
SETTING: Uganda was divided into operational regions: Central, Northern, Eastern, North Eastern, Mid-Western and south-Western where 30,000 were identified and these included: Lower level governments, urban centers, municipalities, towns, market areas, boarder points, social-meeting places, recreational spaces, food vending areas, film kiosks, shopping malls, parks, washing bays, road stop spots, educational institutions and CSOs. 5 lakes were visited to generate understanding of fisher folk communities.
RESPONDENTS: We used groups and individual key informants that way 30,000 Key informants were mobilised to include; leaders, community members, PLHIV, MSM, Substance users, sex-workers, fisher folk, key persons at road stop spot, bar-owners, informal sector, car-parks, bus-parks, work-place-exit points, school leaders, out-door games’ organizers, and uniformed services.
INTERVENTIONS: The police and criminal justice system are points for violence redress. Other forms of Violence/stigma counselling centers exist in major towns/municipals; public and private health facilities provide treatment and management of HIV/STIs; CSOs and government social services’ departments have planned programmes targeting MARPs.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENT: MARPs character and vulnerability spectrum in Uganda.
RESULTS: At community of residence level right through the Criminal justice system, substance users, MSM, Sex-workers and PLHIV still face stigma and violence. Sex-work (female, male and child sex-work) is rampant along all major road trunks and in major destination towns towards Uganda’s boarders. Education and housing areas have high prevalence of male/female sex-work, same sex practices and substance use. Violence/stigma counselling centers exist in major towns/municipals; public and private health facilities provide treatment and management of HIV/STIs; CSOs and government social services’ departments have planned programmes targeting MARPs. Key affected populations such as MSM and substance users being criminalized still lack focused programmes targeting them. Communities still do discriminate and stigmatize Key affected populations such as PLHIV, MSM and substance users. There is a tendency to box MARPs issues into HIV Programmes and this has influenced the approach to most programming. Messaging to eradicate risks to HIV should factor in fact that substance use, unprotected anal sex, female sex-work, male sex-work, child sex-work are interconnections in sexual networks
VULNERABILITY:
CENTRAL REGION: These included; Buganda, Busoga sub-region, Bugwere and Bugisu. The MARPs characteristics range from substance use, child sex-work, fisher folk, MSM, LGBTIQQ, male/female sex-work, PLHIV, young people who are sexually active, long distance drivers, and uniformed services. Vulnerability was around; quick mobility, fear of consequences of visibility, stigma, sexual practices, gendered sexual beliefs and the gap between haves and have nots.
NORTH-EASTERN REGION: These included; Karamoja sub-region. The MARPs characteristics range from substance use, child sex-work, PLHIV, young people who are sexually active. Vulnerability was around; quick mobility, displacements arising from searching for pasture and child neglect
MID-WESTERN REGION: These included; Kasese, Hoima, Buliisa and Fort Portal. The MARPs characteristics range from substance use, child sex-work, fisher folk, MSM, Indigenous Tribes, male/female sex-work around mining and cement industry, PLHIV, young people who are sexually active, long distance drivers, and uniformed services. Vulnerability was around; perceptions of men about mid-Western Uganda females, quick mobility, fear of consequences of visibility, stigma, gap between haves and have nots.
SOUTH-WESTERN REGION: These included; Kabale and Ankole Sub-region. The MARPs characteristics range from substance use, child sex-work, fisher folk, MSM, LGBTIQQ, male/female sex-work, PLHIV, young people who are sexually active, long distance drivers, and uniformed services. Vulnerability was around; quick mobility, fear of consequences of visibility, stigma, cultural perceptions around sexuality and sexual intercourse acts.
WEST-NILE REGION: These included; Arua and Madi Sub-region. The MARPs characteristics range from substance use, child sex-work, fisher folk, male/female sex-work, PLHIV, young people who are sexually active, long distance drivers, and uniformed services. Vulnerability was around; quick mobility, fear of consequences of visibility, stigma, cultural perceptions around sexuality and sexual intercourse acts, and inter-cultural social experiences.
NORTHERN SUB REGION: These included; Acholi and Lango Sub-region. The MARPs characteristics range from substance use, child sex-work, fisher folk, MSM, male/female sex-work, PLHIV, young people who are sexually active, long distance drivers, and uniformed services. Vulnerability was around; quick mobility, fear of consequences of visibility, stigma, cultural perceptions around sexuality and sexual intercourse acts.
IN-DEPTH INTERVIEWS:
“As a town dweller, I do know of substance use, anal sex, female sex-work, male sex-work and child sex-work in this town and many others. The clients include professional persons, odd-jobs workers, artisans, students and non-school young people”. Ashraf (Wandegeya), Florence (Nansana), Grace (Kawempe), Jerome (Migyeera), Cosma (Nimule) and Rashid (Mbale).
“Am a male sex-worker since 2007, my kind of clients have my phone contacts and book in different hotels in different towns of Uganda. They send me a text message and we meet for sex. Most times they also ask me to bring other friends when they are many. Some of our clients do use substances, especially they smoke marijuana”. Crystal (Kampala).
“We want to be trained in skills to start up alternative businesses besides depending on Fishing”. Bukenya (Kyamuswa, Mazinga, Kalangala Islands of Lake Victoria), Arthur (Lake Albert), Ogwer (Lake Kioga).
“Yes, there are programmes on HIV and Human Rights as part of the prison services, hopefully this will be a big step in improving prevention practices”. (Key informant).
“Am interested in two things now that we have met. How your organisation can help us “handle” MARPs since we are increasingly working in that area” . (Key informant from a leading health organisation).
“ What is that nonsense? Every one is a MARP!” ( Key informant and district official).
“ The issues such as stigma, dialogue around discrimination and their relation to HIV are points to start with in starting and driving conversation around MARPs issues”. (Key informant and Community Development Officer).
“Am a trans-woman and I feel so insecure. I have to keep in-doors and only get out at night or make sure I put on long coats and a cap if am to conduct outreach services for other trans-women in Uganda”. (Leader of Trans-Women Bureau Uganda).
“ I am a transgendered male to female person and my parents are aware of my sexuality and gender identity. I wonder why we do not have seminars targeting parents and families. Our families are the first points of insecurity for many of the gay people.” (Leader of Young MSM Club in Uganda).
“ We are ready to conduct community campaigns against “mob-justice” as this is one very unjust way communities deal with what they disagree with. Communities should learn to use the justice system and believe in it. Other reported complaints are evictions, black-mail, extortion and deliberate hostility actions”. (Key informant from law and order section).
LIMITATION: This exercise was conducted to generate vulnerability before testing and it explored issues around visibility of various MARPs.
CONCLUSION: Contexts ranging from Policy, programmes, public and private settings form and influence actions targeting MARPs issues. HIV risk is one major issue most organisations target. However, before testing or accessing an HCT service MARPs need to be looked at as vulnerable and that vulnerability is disproportionate. Criminalization, Stigma and violence form a barrier that silences MSM, Sex-workers and substance users and it may cause them to go underground. This may not be the case for fisher folk, Long distance truckers or uniformed services. MARPs issues include demand for skills training to access anti-poverty programmes such as social grants. Public and private settings have all the basics in place to provide redress to all issues of MARPs. However, they are also points of violence to some MARPs.

When we invite communities to access and attend our outreach health fares we do not exclude other categories of people. We also use peer mobilisers to reach out to LGBTIQQ people. We follow up LGBTIQQ people by e-mail, phone or coupons. It is possible to meet all categories of minorities in Uganda. The trick is to understand the difference between a Public-Health-Human Rights activist/advocate and a reactionary advocate/activist. One has to create networks in the homes, villages, be ready to be seen with leaders, avoid being a show-off, come down to grass-roots and have skills in negotiating diplomatically. The other,tends to use emotions/sympathy.

http://www.change.org/petitions/to-the-ugandan-government---homophobia-anywhere-is-a-threat-to-freedom-everywhere

As the advocacy officer for a rights group called Sexual Minorities Uganda, David Kato was one of Uganda's most high profile gay rights activists. Just weeks after winning a court victory over a tabloid that called for homosexuals to be killed he has been bludgeoned to death in his home.

David was one of a team of activists who took action against Uganda's Rolling Stone tabloid newspaper which had been running a campaign both naming and showing people it claimed were homosexual. The pictures featured on the front page, with an accompanying headline - "hang them". David was one of those pictured.

In response to the murder of David Kato, the managing editor of the weekly Rolling Stone, said in a statement that he had "no regrets about the story. We were just exposing people who were doing wrong."

Homophobia has increased in Uganda recently because of church action but also because of political action. An anti-homosexual bill currently before parliament calls for gays and lesbians to be jailed for life. This bill was sponsored by Ndorwa West, MP David Bahati, a legislator from President Museveni's ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).

It is time for the Ugandan government to act. It is time for the government to publicly condemn the murder of David Kato, condemn homophobic publications such as the Rolling Stone, and to publicly condemn homophobia in Uganda. It is time for the Ugandan government to start educating Ugandans to stop homophobia. Please sign this petition to the Ugandan Government and to President Yoweri Museveni to end homophobia in Uganda.

""Homophobia is like racism and anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry in that it seeks to dehumanize a large group of people, to deny their humanity, their dignity and personhood" - Coretta Scott King

Homophobia anywhere, is a threat to freedom everywhere.

I have always wondered why people out rightly condemned the gays and lesbians.My story is like this: We had planed to hold one of the most secret meeting on how we could silently practice our rights in a given village.But to our dismay,we couldn't tell how the security agencies came to realize about it. We were rounded but being late in the night we managed to escape from the trap. This has just happened just recently.As active members, we encourage others to join us in the fight of our fundamental rights