Oh Uganda!

may God uphold thee, we lay our future in thy hand.  

United; free for liberty.  Together we'll always stand.  

I start out here on the first few line of our National Anthem, because Uganda started out on these lines. 

Now, as then, back in October, 1962, those first lines are no less than a patriotic call to all Ugandans: men, women, children; straight or gay; Christian or not…to organize ourselves and remind ourselves that we do indeed have the will and the courage as well as the profound moral obligation to do what must be done now in 2014, before it is too late:

That is, take back Uganda from national figures who would rather convince Ugandans to believe that it is “morally superior” to turn innocent children onto the streets.  Who endorse cruel,Gay human sacrifices as families are torn apart; outlawing the love they would naturally have.  All as some insane “national interest”.  Terrorizing Ugandan LGBTQIs and creating prostitutes from once industrious hard-working gay students was somehow “Godly” they keep telling us in Kampala.

How can there be a “national interest” in seeing our fellow citizens, families and friends targeted to be criminalized?

Yet here some people are: claiming some imaginary national threat.

From us. 

“From us”?  

Certain politicians are somehow convincing people that our existence is a threat to morality; and even though I was born here in Uganda, and you were born here and she was born here and he was born here…? 

They claim us Ugandan LGBTs to be a “Western threat”; a threat that must be ended with a cruel disregard for everything Uganda has stood for since October 9th 1962.

Back when the flag of Uganda flew above OUR country for the very first time; on that date, Uganda became independent from the United Kingdom and its imported Western rules and regulations that were once alien to African people.

That flag – OUR flag- consists of six equal horizontal bands of black, yellow, red; the three colours representating African peoples (black), Africa's sunshine (yellow), and African brotherhood; red being the colour of blood, through which all Africans are connected.

 

And like you good people who have come to support equality for all, that grey crowned crane is fabled for its gentle nature yet was also the military badge of Courageous Ugandan soldiers -just like us. 

It was that British rule that brought with it the fashion for Uganda’s cruel history of so-called “Sodomy laws”; Africa did not know of shunning its own for power, before then.

Using gays as scapegoats worked for these intruders, and somehow, African people fell for it.  This western invention of “getting the gay people”; hurting and singling us out for torture and pain.  To make examples of us and people like us.

No matter how young or old, healthy or feeble, intelligent, or fabulously proudly and unstoppably intelligent.

This very western invention of creating harsh and un-Ugandan “laws” to “get the gays for votes” was exactly how the English took over, and exactly how more recently, the dangerous and racist American right-wing was able to keep a grip on the American White House long enough to create historic constitutional havoc that is only now being corrected after inflicting much pain on scapegoated Gay people. 

A Purely Western Invention I will remind you again.

This is not the promise of Uganda.

Parliament has officially allowed the start of a process where we will again see the reintroduction of an even stricter “law” against homosexuals and only homosexuals, leaving all other equally law-abiding citizens untouched. 

MPs David Bahati  of the Ndorwa West, and Benson Obua Ogwal of Moroto County, have written to Parliament asking for a date to be set aside for the re-tabling of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill.  Clearly, both are perfectly happy to let critical budget talks stall as they instead actively inspire unspeakable acts of violence against LGBTs, suspected LGBTs and our justice-minded supporters. 

Why? Why indeed!  The whole of it should strike suspicion in the heart of every Ugandan, but incredibly, as of today, it has not.

This need to pass such “laws” now, when there is so much else to accomplish, should raise as much fear and suspicion across heterosexual Ugandans as it was designed to instill in us homosexual Ugandans.

“Together, we’ll always stand”. 

“Together”, our Anthem promises.  Where is that, in these horrific “legal” actions being taken against certain Ugandans but not others?

As if any country on planet earth could seriously afford to waste its own citizens, irreplaceable human resources, just so power-mad career politicians like Bahati and Ogwal can campaign on our tortured bodies. 

There is no godliness in that, surely. 

Nothing but a political greed and western pseudo-“religious” bullying; tactics that work only because good people are fearful of speaking up.

We are the generation that was put on earth at this time, to change that forever.

It is time to speak up.  But we need speakers and microphones.  Which is where the fundraising comes in.

At no time in Uganda’s history has the call to “stand together” been more critical:

Look at the headlines:

Worldwide, truly evil and virulent forces like ISIS and other terrorist organizations are seemingly all aligned with exactly the mentality that is ruining Africa’s progress in here Uganda:

Officials of the sort who would publicly condone “corrective rape” and the closing of schools so girls would lose all hope to contribute; we are now being terrorized by the kinds of political candidates who seem eager to strip more and more women of their dignity too.  I see more and more lgbtqi children being cruelly robbed of their rightful future and turned out onto the streets to starve in fear.  Why?  Does anyone have a reason that doesn’t sound crazy?

Currently we are seeing our gay brothers and sisters tortured and killed by angry uneducated mobs, purposely stirred up by a media that is happy to be as blood-thirsty and cruel as the western slave traders who once tormented the innocent people of Africa and made them to turn against one another in other times.

Have the times really changed that much? 

And history now repeats itself, this time with Ugandans endangering Ugandans for some irrational and ruthless reasons toward some terrible person’s success.

They keep calling for the death of innocent and creative, loving gay Ugandans, all of us born with the same black skin represented on the Ugandan flag, with the same love of God and from God; with the same love of family and same love of country.

Our red blood is being spilled in the streets, and these politicians declare it all as some sort of ‘gay-human sacrifice” to the God of Jesus Christ that never once asked for such inhumane and godless sacrifices.  Enough of these lies.  Enough.

God would never demands the shedding of blood that Uganda once upon a time said made us One People.  In stark contrast, Bahati and Ogwal do demand it? 

Bahati and Ogwal might as well burn that flag every time they make a public appearance against equality and justice for all Ugandan citizens, as is the promise of OUR land.

In spirit, with the re-tabling of an ever more barbaric antigay “law”, they are trying to effect just that.

This effort to criminalize LGBTQ’s mocks everything Uganda is supposed to stand for.  But think of it: if we can join forces here on the ground and educate our neighbors, and love our children…all of them?

Well what an example that would be.

Haters, no longer welcome among proper men. What a glorious day that would be for Uganda, for all African nations and the world. We have started something that is worthy of a happy ending my friends!

Ugandan LGBTQI’s and our courageous supporters here and abroad are in this for all human equality worldwide and it is crystal clear already; any tangible effect here in Uganda – no matter how seemingly tiny and incremental - will surely have an effect worldwide.  For the better.

Surely this is clear.  And as groups like ours get financed and are able to communicate across a sea of irrational bigotry, we will learn and teach ways to erase the backward drag of illegal discrimination, restoring the promise of Uganda’s national anthem for all Ugandans.  Every one.

“Oh Uganda! 

May God uphold thee, we lay our future in thy hand.  

United; free for liberty…Together we'll always stand…” 

Our common political oppressors think the same way about women, as they think about gay people and homeless gay children.  That we are somehow subhuman and they are happy to use the same Western-style and or middle-eastern terrorist techniques of fear and division to keep their grip on power.

The hate must be stopped. 

Every free man, woman and child worldwide; we face the same enemy. 

Purveyors of the same power-hungry anti-patriotic insanity. 

And for all of us, we share the same stand that must be taken by as many Ugandans as possible, to stop this hate and replace it with love and joy. Which is why we are gathering here now and will continue to do the same – no matter what -in the future.

Love, no matter what, wins.

So let me once again declare this now: we are not going away.

Education with the truth is God’s way and God’s truth doesn’t include desecrating the Ugandan Constitution with division and fear. 

Modern Ugandan politics cannot include ignoring the promise of our forebearers: men –and women- that was purposely enshrined so prophetically into our national anthem.  No one should be allowed to anymore.

This infection of anti-human hate must be stopped cold, and that will only happen if we indeed “Stand together always” as our national anthem, national pride and national sense of true godly decency, so proudly remind us to do.

Antigay “law”-making as introduced here by Bahati and company, is designed exactly as a cynical diversion technique; the exact western-style opposite to the very ideals we sing about in our national anthem and speak of when we talk of “justice and democracy for all” in the 21st century.

For all.  Not just some. 

“Stand together always”: because it has become absolutely clear all through African history: no one has permanent civil rights until everyone does; and every citizen has an undisputed right to live, and form loving relationships and lead productive households with everyone alive understanding that no two human being are ever going to be the same, and that divesity is not to be feared.  It is beautiful when left to flourish in peace.

NO families’ households will ever be the same.  Humans are diverse, but this is a beautiful thing.  All Ugandans are human, and humans are humans: some young, some old, others healthy or feeble; some extra intelligent, or some even unstoppably fabulous. 

Like us.  Here today.

Right now in *OUR*Country, our collective values as a civilized country are under attack by way of this dangerously damaging western approach of dividing and conquering over tight or disputed election cycle, sacrificing whomever however, caring nothing of the human damage after the votes are cast, and the rich politicians celebrate their divisive “victories”.

Be warned right now: as long as a gay person can be “legally” dehumanized as “less than” or “unworthy”, NO ONE IS SAFE. 

ISIS is proving that daily. 

Al Qaeda is proving it daily. 

Habati and company are declaring out-right their allegiance with these terror-minded factions; For the love of God and country, Ugandan patriots must stand together before it’s too late.

This is never to say that the West has no lessons to offer Uganda.  Quite the opposite:

Martin Niemöller was a Protestant pastor who spoke out against Adolf Hitler, spending the last seven years of Nazi rule in concentration camps as a publicly and governmentally criminalized minority. 

Mister Niemöller is perhaps best remembered for this quotation: 

“First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not a Socialist. 

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out— 

Because I was not a Trade Unionist. 

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— 

Because I was not a Jew. 

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me…”

Luckily for Uganda, it is not yet too late, but the clock ticks onward as today’s panicked and corrupt legislature remains oddly intent on shredding democracy to bits.

Far too few patriots are outraged, and the LGBTs among us are rightfully terrified from being terrorized. It is time to act.

As many of us here already know, when the first anti-gay law was signed in February 2014, many of our bravest members were literally forced deep into hiding.  In their own homeland; villages where they were born, and raised as I was in loving Christian homes with the sort of values and morals that made me exactly who I am today; a kindly gay man who has known from a young age that there was something extraordinary about me that the “plain” boys around didn’t share.

My difference inspired me to achieve my lifetime goal of caring for and nurturing cast off, unwanted and orphaned children. Hopefully I am now on the path to one day be an instrument of God for re-establishing Uganda as a country that values all of God’s children and restoring true morality and values to the fabric of our country.

“OUR” country, let me emphasize again, please.

Too many gay heroes and role models had to flee OUR country once their faces were published in the notoriously antigay “RED PEPPER” and “HELLO” tabloids:

Now we see Ugandans turning on Ugandans.  Again.  Western-style.

Mobs, angry about the inequities in the Ugandan economy, turning on Gays instead of our true and common enemies: the haters and the intolerant bigots now clogging the wheels of our government for their own greedy and suspicious ends.

We are seeing gay citizen-taxpayers being targeted by our own communities; targeted for unspeakable indignities by our “brothers and sisters” at the request of “our” government.  And there is no rational explanation for any of it, except power and votes in the next election.

No patriot, surely can stand to see this continue.

As our economy threatens to falters at the hands of the blatantly corrupt, we are watching a door being opened for the lowest common denominators within that majority – the “religious” terrorists, the “corrective” rapists, the brutal misogynists, and heartless child abusers - to suddenly believe that any human difference may be worth denigrating and assaulting.

“In the name of God”. 

As a man dedicated to God and the teachings of Jesus Christ or Lord and Savior, what could be more blasphemous? 

I would cry but I have no more tears left to give.  Now, I am mad.  I love my God and I love my country, but I am really ticked off.  But I have just enough justice-seeking desire and absolutely rainbow power enough to go on, no matter what. 

Love, no matter what.  That is the winning formula because it is always the winning formula.  And who know the power of “love no matter what” than LGBT Ugandans willing to stand together and say:

THE HATE STOPS HERE.

From this point onward in Ugandan history, there can be no going backwards to the Western ways of “divide and conquer” and “whoever ends up with the most civil rights and political presents, wins”. 

That is not the way of peace, justice or a sustainable democracy.  And surely hate, is not the way of God almighty.

Do not be fooled or complacent: Ugandan democracy is being endangered. 

Retreat by any of us in this gathering today, could certainly well mean death to thousands of Ugandan LGBT just like us.  They need us, and we need them to know that we exist in numbers too big and too loving to ignore.

Love conquers all; I have seen this in my lifetime.

I was considered a bright boy during my school years and I truly love serving the True God of Jesus Christ: the God of love, The God of tolerance; the God equality.  It would feel so natural to a boy growing up in a religious family atmosphere, to love learning and sharing what I’ve learned over this sometime harsh life of mine.  I naturally became a teacher by profession with a certificate in education.  It was something I had to do, and am now doing.

I knew I was called by God to teach children who didn’t have the kinds of parental support I had.  I know I am blessed to have survived to stand here before you today when far too many others now cannot. 

Extending whatever helping hand I can, to aid needy children is how I was raised to thank God and show Him my deepest and most humbled gratitude to His Grace, the Lord God Almighty, who has seen fit to fulfill my dreams in ways now that I never imagined possible before.

Now, as an adult, facing down the evil terror of Uganda’s draconian Antigay “laws”, I am still afraid – only a fool would not be – but the truth will set us all free.

My life says God definitely does NOT hate gays. 

More than just love me, God shows me daily that he is pleased and has therefore given me and people like me his rainbow as a symbol of the peace to come, after this wicked storm of bigotry and division has passed and the yellow sun of the Uganda flag shines on all her citizens.

 “Equally”; so that all may be productive together in her progress, through our growing online pool of friends across the world.  I thank God I am able to fundraise and get material support to fund and accelerate much needed educational programs.   I am grateful for the strength and conviction that God Almighty  keep granting me every single day.

There can be no going backwards now that evil is stirring in Kampala, and even though I too am a face known by Hot Pepper readers, I am here and I am queer. 

And it was good.

From this day on, our most important work will be that of focusing on the current anti-gay laws in Uganda and the recently defeated anti-homosexuality law by the Constitutional court and the deadly effect on community members’ ability to mingle freely in public places.

In an ironic parallel with LGBT oppressors wreaking havoc overseas from strategically connected “terror cells” in direct conflict with local government agencies, Uganda LGBTs and our supporters find ourselves in a position to find ways of creating like “joy-cells”, operating “under the government radars” mush like terror cell are forced to.  Our message of course, is the opposite one.  A far more Godly one.

Ugandan LGBTs must now face the terrible precedent of a government system that criminalizes our very existence, but to get that to happen nationwide, we must devise quietly loving yet strictly reliable ways to communicate, especially under the kinds of duress that are all but certain to come our way as a result of our efforts.

LGBT Ugandan freedom fighters like us will have to find ways to fund and hold regular gatherings across Uganda in what I will call “joy-cells” –as opposed to “terror-cells” - tucked safely away in politically strategic yet private locations across Uganda and beyond, and  create ways to ensure the safe passage out of Uganda for those in danger of being attacked by angrily  homophobic Ugandan mobs. 

Once a network of freedom fighters is established, our ability to educate our fellow Ugandans is instantly put in reach.  Bigots: watch out.

Once people get to meet and know good hearted and industriously creative gay people, they always end up loving us, because they will know our hearts to be as gentle as the crowned grey crane on our nation’s flag; they will understand our love to be as bonding as the blood we all share as Africans.

On that brighter gayer side of the rainbow story, events like our Community Beach Pride, which took place on the 9th of August, made it so many Ugandan LGBTIs could come together to socialize with the approval and protection the Ugandan Police and experience what our real future as joyful loving Ugandans can feel like.

This was of course, a great change, and something of a risk, as this was back when the first anti-gay “law” was illegally signed in February 2014; many members went back in hiding and some had to flee the country for safety once their faces got exposed in the local “RED PEPPER” and “ HELLO” tabloids and became targeted by the community.

They want to shut us down and shut us up.  As if frightening us will make is disappear.

The only gay-friendly bar in Kampala where kuchus would meet every Sunday night for socializing, suspended Gay-friendly nights out of fear from “our” government.

Since the news of striking down the anti-gay law, some have resumed their Sunday schedules to RAM BAR but most remain cautious; in today’s dangerously uncertain social climate, police raids can happen any time.

Once upon a time, many Ugandan gay organizations felt free enough to sponsor weekend socializing events where members would meet and share stories of daily life experiences. Sadly the anti-homosexuality law scare resulted in all these productive and healthy social activities being suspended indefinitely.

Until now.

Clearly, the sharing of our trials and triumphs in this harsh antigay climate is vital in keeping our movement –freedom and justice for all -- alive and kicking.  And we will never just mean equality for only LGBTs.  Our struggle is everyone’struggle on planet earth.  

Building up and strengthening friendships both at these individual and organizational levels is a key first step in winning Uganda back from cynical and traitorous “politicians” who only seem concerned for their own vague long term goals of antigay terrorism and using Gay people as a diversion to the country’s REAL needs and concerns.  For votes they would not otherwise get.

We need to create a network of joy-cells to enhance LGBT unity because that will help Uganda’s unity.  And unity means strength. 

In our community, the current situation is still dangerously unsettled, but we have hope that through well- coordinated programs, we can bring productive communications to every corner of Uganda so we can better share our stories, our paths to success and our intent to make the entire world a better place for all of God’s creation.

Knowledge, and the sharing of that knowledge, breeds power. 

Educating the world is mankind’s greatest and most reliable weapon for fighting stigma, discrimination and injustice where it hides.

Through facilitating meetings and sharing our experiences and problems, and making sure to tell our stories with confidence and joy to anyone who will listen, one day we will see to it that no LGBT Ugandan will ever have to suffer alone in silence again. 

The acts of bravery they will have faced to make it here alive today, will be celebrated as will the fabulous diversity that makes up the world’s LGBTs community.

The time is now.  God has been making this message clearer and clearer about this.

There is indeed a Test of God and love and faith and country going on. On closer inspection by even the most naïve child, it becomes clear that it is not the nations’ most vilified and oppressed citizens failing that test.  

The Ugandan flag is being burned before our very eyes.   But watch as our love flows like the water of a river:

In an old Ugandan Folk tale, The Fairy of the River, far below in that deep water, called back to reminds "A river is like the life of man; it never returns. What is past is done.

This is not a time for tears, or sorrow or feeling sad for past insults.

We are here to put the brimstone fires out for good so that more and more humans can live in peace and productivity as God – the true God- always intends; not the way today’s most wicked politicians intend, at the expense of justice and virtue.

“Homosexuality” Plato once said, “is regarded as shameful by barbarians and by those who live under despotic governments just as philosophy is regarded as shameful by them, because it is apparently not in the interest of such rulers to have great ideas engendered in their subjects, or powerful friendships or passionate love-all of which homosexuality is particularly apt to produce."

When I first came out in 2004, I received harsh and rude reactions from people whom I would have considered family and friends.  Now, as a teacher and international Gay Advocate, I can say honestly that I love my job and I thank my international allies in Europe and USA who continue to help me in fundraising and providing scholastic materials and other necessary school fees for these children.

I trust my sister and a few friends. Above all, I used to trust more my mum but she died last year. She will forever remain the greatest mum and may God rest her soul in eternal peace. Yes I chose to partake in this strategy to tell people about my life knowing that the reactions would be cruel knowing that Uganda is so homophobic.

The hate stops here.  This is how we stop it.

I thank you all for your love and support and in return solemnly I pledge you my eternal love and support right back. 

Ever since I came out of the closet, I developed my own “homosexual passions” that Plato spoke of, to serve my beloved fellow community members and deciding to dedicate my life to social activism.  It is a joy-filled endeavor which has introduced me to many great friends both locally and globally.

I was not forced to come out, I was certainly willing to come out because someone our country – OUR country – had to; I was only waiting for the right time.  I hope others just like me, will heed that calling to join all of the justice seekers in the world.

That time is now –right now - and it is our solemn intent to offer spiritual rehabilitation to all stigmatized LGBTI members through our vision realized here in the room and with our St. Paul’s Voice Centre (SPAVOC). We must stand together to restore justice and integrity to OUR Uganda and  OUR flag that I and so many others of us, hold so dear.

I leave you where we began, with the words of our national anthem:

“Oh Uganda!

May God uphold thee,

we lay our future in thy hand. 

United, free, For liberty

Together we'll always stand. 

Oh Uganda!  the land of freedom.”

Our love and labour we give,

and with neighbours all at our country's call.

In peace and friendship we'll live.

Oh Uganda!

The land that feeds us

by sun and fertile soil grown.

For our own dear land,

We'll always stand

The Pearl of Africa's Crown.

God bless you all.

And thank you.