COMMENT: Our future as Africans depends on resisting homosexuality

COMMENT | FRANK MUGIMBA | Homosexuality refers to a situation where one human being is sexually attracted to another human of the same sex. If not revealed, no one will ever know that you have a liking for another human of your same sex.

For example, if an idea crossed my mind to kill a person but I do not actually reveal this to another person, and even, never put my idea into action, I will remain a law-abiding citizen who once had a criminal mind or idea.

Homosexuality is intuitionally, and by African moral standards, seen as wrong. It is seen, by the majority, as a non-natural sexual desire. Attempts have indeed been made to investigate whether this behavior is natural or learnt.

One can then understand the urgency and unity shown by the parliament of Uganda against reports that there was an increase in promotion and recruitment of young children especially in schools and in other areas where youth socialize.

Nearly all legislators, from the ruling party, independents and opposition were in solid agreement when a new bill criminalising the spread of homo-sexuality and making some crimes punishable by death, was brought to the floor.

Children have a special place in African society and are key in a matter that is dear to many of us – lineage.

I have a responsibility, as an African, to fulfil and uphold the lineage of my great grandparents.

My great-grandfather can be traced through my grandfather whom I can trace through my father; and from me, my father can be traced.

I despise any non-productive relationship that I see ending the continuity of this wonderful generation I am part of. How do you even accept to be dominated by another man, and you take the position of a female gender?

Therefore, any attempt, to influence the young children whose minds are fresh and ready to take in anything that is taught and inculcated in their minds, will be resisted.  Children are as result of a heterosexual relationship between man and woman, and such a trend should be carried forward if man and society as it is, is to survive.

But I must accept that I am also part of a broken society where families are on their weakest foot. The role of parenthood has been replaced by a desire to hunt for money and riches, and churches have been hijacked by would be criminals.

In such a society, the degradation of morals is inevitable, leaving the children to grow on their own, rather than being brought up as was the case in our days.

As an African parent, you must know what is good for your child and this should not be debatable as far as morals and values are concerned in our society.

While parliament will think that their recently passed law is their answer to homosexuality, I will emphasize that family breakdown and neglect of the responsibility of parenthood is the major cause of immorality.

The bill faced minor resistance from a few Members of Parliament and the usual critics outside it, including reknown journalist Andrew Mwenda.

I think Mwenda’s judgement of right or wrong has been clouded by his natural trait of being accommodative.

This often pushes him to hide behind facts that could sometimes be misleading.

Secondly, I believe his research and restless reading of western writings has left his natural person and judgement almost lifeless.

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Frank Mugimba is based in Kampala, Uganda