Oxfam International executive director, Ms Winnie Byanyima and Speaker Rebecca Kadaga
Ms Winnie Byanyima, the executive director of Oxfam International and wife to Uganda’s Opposition leader, Dr Kizza Besigye has attacked Speaker of Parliament, Ms Rebecca Kadaga for allegedly denying members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) “rights in order to gain some popularity.”
“Gay agenda permanently banned from IPU assemblies. Shame on Speaker Kadaga for denying vulnerable people rights, in order to gain some popularity,” Ms Byanyima tweeted in response to a story by our sister publication Daily Monitor.
Ms Byanyima’s tweet comes after law makers meeting in Geneva voted to ban debate on the subject of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) at the Inter Parliamentary Union ever again.
The Ugandan delegation led by Speaker Kadaga led the move against what they termed as a well-orchestrated machination led by Canada and Belgium who had lobbied many delegates to vote in favor of the motion.
Uganda’s delegation comprises of Mourine Osoru (Arua district), Abdulatif Sebaggala (Kawempe North), Rose Kabagyeni (Kisoro District), Esther Anyakun (Nakapiripirit District), Paul Akamba (Busiki) and Francis Mwijukye (Buhweju).
They were supported by mainly representatives from China, Russia, African and Arab parliaments.
The LGBT agenda had been presented to the Assembly to be debated as an emergency item for the next 140th IPU Assembly. This, IPU President, Gabriela Cuevas Barron subjected the matter to a vote by member states.
The question put was on whether the standing Committee on Democracy and Human Rights should hold a panel debate that will lead to a resolution entitled, “The role of Parliaments in ending discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and ensuring respect for the human rights of LGBT persons”.
Speaking against the motion, Mr Akamba reminded the General Assembly of the IPU Statute and reasons why it was formed in 1889 calling on all delegates to vote in respect of that statute.
“Article 1(2) of the IPU statute states that the Inter-Parliamentary Union shall work for peace and cooperation among peoples and for the solid establishment of representative institution and also contribute to the defense and promotion of human rights, which are universal in scope. The agenda presented here has been widely rejected by many member states hence lacking universality in scope,” he said.
689 MPs voted against the proposal while 499 legislators voted for the proposal.
Kadaga who was visibly excited after the results assured Ugandans that they would continue to fight against what she termed as uncivilized and unchristian behaviors.
“I am so happy that this battle has finally been won. It started in St. Petersburg in Russia when they attempted to smuggle this same item but today we have made a final vote that will prohibit the issue of LGBT from appearing on the IPU agenda,” she said.
Mr Ssebaggala thanked all nations that joined the Ugandan team to vote against the debate and promised that the same strength is being brought to Uganda to awaken the Anti-Homosexuality Bill in the Parliament of Uganda.
“The decision taken today has made me so strong and as I return from Geneva, I am prepared to awaken our gay law that was nullified by court,” he said.
On Sunday, 14 October 2018, MPs at the meeting opposed the proposal to have the LGBT issues included on the agenda for this year’s meeting.
Uganda has over the years continued to oppose the LGBT agenda at the different international meetings that are held around the world.
