The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
By Ronald Musoke
President Yoweri Museveni has responded to criticism from the US president, Barack Obama who early this week said Uganda’s enacting of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill would complicate relations between the two countries.
On Feb. 16, Obama warned Uganda over its plans to criminalize homosexuality, saying the move was likely to “complicate our valued relationship.”
Obama added that the signing of the bill would be a “step backward” for all Ugandans and would reflect poorly on Uganda’s commitment to protect the human rights of its people.
“The Anti-Homosexuality Bill in Uganda once law, will be more than an affront and a danger to the gay community in Uganda. It will be a step backward for all Ugandans and reflect poorly on Uganda’s commitment to protecting the human rights of its people,” Obama said in a statement.
“It will also mark a serious setback for all those around the world who share a commitment to freedom, justice and equal rights.”
But in a statement released today but signed Feb.18, Museveni has responded to Obama’s statement saying, he would like to discourage the US government from taking such stance.
“Countries and societies should relate with each other on the basis of mutual respect and independence in decision making. ‘Valued relationship’ cannot be sustainably maintained by one society being subservient to another society,” Museveni said.
“There are a myriad acts the societies in the West do that we frown on or even detest. We, however, never comment on those acts or make them pre-conditions for working with the West.”
“Africans do not seek to impose their views on anybody. We do not want anybody to impose their views on us,” Museveni’s statement reads in part.
Below is his full statement.
President Museveni Responds to Obama on Gay Bill by The Independent Magazine on Scribd
