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Ugandan President Cannot Veto the Anti-Homosexuality Bill

Posted by: Lez Get Real on May 12, 2011.

Melanie Nathan- May 12,2011-
At countdown of the hours to Uganda’s Parliament close of its 8th Session and the possible vote on the Anti-homosexuality Bill, which is on the Agenda for the last day, LEZGETREAL has come to learn that President Museveni cannot veto the AHB. Warren Throckmorten confirmed this with two sources today and read through their Rules of Procedure and Constitution. He can send it back (although it would be the first time) but he cannot stop it. It can either pass or fail tomorrow. If it comes up and fails then it is done. If it doesn’t come up then a member can make a motion to continue all business. If that does not happen then the new incoming Speaker could direct the committees to pick up where they left off with unfinished bills from the last Parliament. We apparently could be monitoring this particular AHB until May 19.

Although the “kill” has been removed to create an amended version, the bill is still heinous in all its components, not only in the impact on the life of Ugandans on many different levels, but also in the harsh sentences that will be handed down to peole who are simply living their truth and their natural born sexual orientation.

There is evidence to show that the Bill as authored by David Bahati – with or without the Death penalty (now removed) has far more sinister intentions – it is intended as a way to start ridding Uganda of its NGO’s the non profit civil societies that help victims of homophobia, and others who are present to expose all human rights infractions.

Human Rights Watch, for example, provided a tacit criticism and evidence to the Museveni administration’ of lethal force and other oppressive indications including kidnap and torture of his opposition, by calling for investigations to include independent nuetral investigators fro abroad. This Bill would provide the perfect shelter for the Museveni government who would rather certain watchdog and critical NGO’s disappeared off the face of the continent.

The Anti homosexuality Bill is mere hours away from possible enactment in the face of which the State department issued an even stronger statement today, flying in the face of David Bahati – its strongest proponent and author who thought that common ground has been reached now that the “kill” is out of the Bill. Clearly the Bill is unacceptable in any form whatsoever.

“No amendments, no changes, would justify the passage of this odious bill,” State Department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters. “Both (President Barack Obama) and (Secretary of State Hillary Clinton) publicly said it is inconsistent with universal human rights standards and obligations.”

The State Department, he said, is joining Uganda’s own human rights commissions in calling for the bill’s rejection.

“We are following this legislative process very closely,” Toner said. “Our embassy is closely monitoring the parliament’s proceedings and we also are in close contact with Uganda’s civil rights and civil society leaders, as well as members of the (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community there.”

Keep an eye we will be following the progress all night and tomorrow .

HEAR RADIO INTERVIEW THIS WEEK WITH DAVID BAHATI