Uganda's controversial ethics and
integrity minister is calling for stricter laws to prosecute gays and
lesbians in that country, reports Agence France-Presse.
“Who's going to occupy Uganda 20
years from now if we all become homosexuals,” James Nsaba Buturo
said at a press conference. “We know that homosexuals don't
reproduce.”
“There is now a globalization of
homosexuality and people in Uganda are attempting to take advantage
of the globalization. It is an attempt to end civilization. It is
that serious.”
Gays and lesbians are banned by the
constitution in the landlocked country. Offenders may be sentenced
to life in prison, but rarely is such a punishment implemented.
Buturo called for additional anti-gay
legislation, saying the government needed to act quickly and
aggressively to wipe out gays in Uganda. Being gay is viewed as an
imported lifestyle in the country of 30 million.
“The state of moral health in our
nation is challenging and we are concerned about the mushrooming of
lesbianism and homosexuality. Ten years ago, this phenomena was not
there, but the disease has penetrated everywhere,” he said.
“It is true that the law on
homosexuality is not comprehensive and that the criminals just walk
away and police find it difficult to prosecute. We need to address
this gap. We want it to become law in that if someone is a
homosexual or confesses to being gay or lesbian, then he is a
criminal.”
The minister is a devout member of the
Church of Uganda, part of the Anglican Communion that has threatened
schism with the Episcopal Church over the consecration of an openly
gay bishop, Gene Robinson of New Hampshire.