Uganda: Homosexual Admits Recruiting Students | All Africa | March 23 2009
Paul Kiwuuwa
Kampala — A man shocked parents on Sunday when he confessed to recruiting school children into homosexuality as part of a programme to promote the practice in Ugandan schools.
George Oundo said funders gave them "much money" and training abroad and that he would target mostly the needy children who had problems of tuition and pocket money and "others who like outings."
Oundo warned parents to know their children's friends. Homosexuals, he added, were targeting mostly children "because they are easy to initiate and they like easy things".
Oundo said he got seriously involved in promoting homosexuality in 2003. "I was taken to Nairobi for training," he said. "I used to supply pornographic materials in form of books and compact discs showing homosexuality to young boys in many schools," he explained.
The training, he said, was facilitated by Gay and Lesbian Coalition. "I also got the pupils' telephone contacts. We used to meet with both girls and boys in schools during ceremonial parties," he asserted.
He said he only stopped his activities after becoming a Born-again Christian. He told all this to about 50 parents attending a seminar at Hotel Triangle, Kampala on Sunday. It was organised by Family Life Network, a local charity which promotes family values.
Oundo said he got saved at Pastor Martin Sempa's church, the Inter-Faith Rainbow Coalition against Homosexuality, based at Makerere University Kampala.
Oundo asserted that he had been a renown gay and lesbian activist for five years and had operated under the umbrella group, Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG). He said he had taken on the female role and his name was Georgina.
"Praise God. Recently I realised that I have been victimising young people into devilish ways," Oundo said. "I confess before the parents of the victimised children and they should forgive me."
He hoped to go back to his former school, Muyenga High (Jinja), where he recruited many students and repent.
He said he was initiated into the vice at 12 by friends like Victor Mukasa, a gay activist, after his parents separated and he was being raised by a single mother.
"I was brought up in a poor family. Lack of parental care, love and the loneliness may have led me to join gay activities," he added.
Oundo said he experienced a transgender transition because he "wanted to be a woman". "Just go to the Internet and Google the name Georgina and you will see how I have been defending gay activism," he explained.
Oundo said homosexuality was spread by international human rights organisations. He said after he denounced the gay activities, he received threats from a gay activist who accused him of betrayal.
George 'Georgina' Oundo and another gay activist, "Brenda" Kiiza, were arrested on September 10, 2008, for "recruiting homosexuals". But they were released on September 18, 2008 after their lawyer and the international human rights organisation, Human Rights Watch, protested.
In July 2005, local government officers raided the home of Juliet Victor Mukasa, the former chairperson of SMUG. They seized documents and arrested another lesbian activist. Mukasa sued for torture and court awarded her damages.
Gay rights activists have become more vocal in their campaign for recognition and have featured prominently at international conferences, particularly relating to HIV/AIDS.
Last year, education minister Namirembe Bitamazire announced an investigation into homosexuality in schools following complaints by MPs that the illegal activity was rampant in schools.
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The Uganda AIDS Commission chief, Kihumuro Apuuli, also noted at the time that schools had become a breeding ground for the vice, which targets youth aged between 15 and 24. He said parents and guardians had a big responsibility to inculcate African values into their children.
Sodomy is a crime under the penal code and the Constitution prohibits "marriage between persons of the same sex".
Pastors of Pentecostal churches last week called for a commission of inquiry into allegations of sodomy and homosexuality in churches.
Other pastors yesterday told journalists in Kampala the war against sodomy would be long and challenging but must be fought.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200903240111.html
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Eight denounce homosexuality | New Vision | 25th March, 2009
By Moses Mulondo
EIGHT more men yesterday confessed involvement in homosexuality and gay activities, which they said they had abandoned. Speaking to journalists at the Grand Imperial Hotel in Kampala, the youthful men described homosexuality as abnormal and anti-Christian, and declared war against it.
The tough-talking men were accompanied by George Oundo, who earlier in the week denounced homosexuality and confessed recruiting school children into the practice.
“We have been involved in recruiting homosexuals, spreading the gospel of homosexuality, and we know the operations of homosexuals,” said 27-year-old Emma Matovu, who took to homosexuality 13 years ago. “We shall do all it takes to eliminate the practice in Uganda.”
Matovu, who said he abandoned the practice two weeks ago, asserted: “Homosexuality is dangerous and dehumanising but is growing fast in Uganda.”
He urged the Government and all concerned citizens to “wake up now before this abnormal practice is made to appear normal as the case has been in the West”.
Another former homosexual, Charles Asiimwe, said the practice had spread to government offices, churches, schools and hotels. “Many business moguls are involved,” Asiimwe said.
Oundo said the eight men would fight the vice because they were victims with a tormenting experience.
“We shall expose those who refuse to abandon the practice and we shall not be intimidated because we are protected by Jesus,” he asserted. “We know their operations, including a restaurant in the city centre where homosexuals wait for clients from nearby hotels.”
He urged his former partners to abandon the practice, saying Uganda should become a role model in fighting the “barbarism”.
He called on Juliet Mukasa, the head of the Sexual Minorities in Uganda (SMUG), Bishop Christopher Ssenyonjo, a gay rights activist and headmaster Kisule (other name withheld) to abandon the practice.
SMUG brings together lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender and intersex activists in Uganda.
Addressing the press conference, Family Life Network chief Stephen Langa read a statement from parents and concerned citizens, urging the Government to establish a probe to assess the prevalence of homosexuality in Uganda.
“We want a confidential platform to be provided for abused children to speak out without being stigmatised,” the parents suggested.
Langa said his group would move around the country convincing parents to sign a petition to be handed to the President and Parliament on April 7. He said the petition will demand urgent steps to be taken against homosexuality in Uganda.
http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/12/675844
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