Uganda: Students Arrested for 'Promoting Homosexuality'

[William769]

Five Ugandans have been arrested under the country's draconian Anti-Homosexuality Act on charges of allegedly "promoting homosexuality" to minors, according to the Daily Monitor newspaper in Kampala.

The newspaper reports that those arrested include a teacher, two students, and two businessmen. Police reportedly arrested the group over the course of a week, after locals informed police of their suspicions that the group was "carrying out clandestine movements in both primary and secondary schools in the district, luring the pupils and students" into homosexuality, according to the Monitor. The alleged crimes reportedly took place in Uganda's Pader District, located about 250 kilometers north of the capital city of Kampala. The names of those arrested were not mentioned in the report, nor were the dates of their apprehensions.

The Monitor article twice mentions the fact that Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Act provides especially harsh penalties of up to life in prison for "aggravated homosexuality." It also notes that the definition of aggravated homosexuality includes "acts with a minor while HIV-positive."

But notably, the newspaper does not report any formal charges of aggravated homosexuality filed against any of the accused. The report does, however, include an ambiguously worded quote from a Pader District police official named Romeo Ojara Onek. Onek told the newspaper that "the suspects’ medical report is [sic] out and their files have been forwarded to the Resident State Attorney for advice, pending prosecution.”

http://www.advocate.com/world/2014/07/10/uganda-students-arrested-promoting-homosexuality

Talk about a modern day witch hunt!

[The Magistrate]

1. Very Sorry To Hear This, Sir

These laws are an abomination.

[William769]

2. Yes they are. Many Countries have applied pressure including the U.S.

I don't know what more can be done.

[nomorenomore08]

3. +2

[riderinthestorm]

4. DESPICABLE!! There are no other words... this is just grotesque. nt

[William769]

5. Right there with you.

[PDJane]

6. The ignorance is astounding, and it's part of an African mind-set against the different.

However, US evangelical groups have been promoting the ignorance. Why? Because they can. It's obscene.

[riderinthestorm]

7. AM Kick! nt

[dilby]

8. Would these people technicaly be pedophiles if they were having sex with children?

In the US it would be reported that they busted a pedophile ring if they had a group of adults who were preying on primary and secondary school children.

[William769]

9. Yes, is there was evedence of that?

Which there is not. Do you have a source that shows there is?

[dilby]

10. Just going by the article.

It seems people in the area called them out and they were arrested. Recently had a kid here in Oregon that people accused of molesting girls at the pool and they arrested him too. Not sure how things work in Uganda but here in Oregon it seems they can arrest you based on an accusation and then they investigate.

[William769]

11. The Article also states this

But notably, the newspaper does not report any formal charges of aggravated homosexuality filed against any of the accused. The report does, however, include an ambiguously worded quote from a Pader District police official named Romeo Ojara Onek. Onek told the newspaper that "the suspects’ medical report is out and their files have been forwarded to the Resident State Attorney for advice, pending prosecution.”

Don't know what your beef is here but Uganda has been pretty transparent on their treatment of the LGBT community. That's why a lot of Countries are withholding financial aid to them.

Let's not forget "kill the Gays bill" from Uganda.

[dilby]

12. Not a beef, just stating if they did do that it would be pedophilia and not homosexuality.

Sorry I have a serious issue with people calling pedophiles, homosexuals. I don't care if it's Uganda, Russia or the US, label the crime accordingly.

Also from the article for them to be charged with aggravated homosexuality they had to be HIV Positive.

[theHandpuppet]

13. Kicking

[Behind the Aegis]

14. I would say "unbelievable", but not really.

This shit needs to stop!