American Jewish World Service establishes fund for Ugandan Gays

The American Jewish World Service, an international development and human rights organization, announced Friday that it has established the Urgent LGBT Uganda Fund to support gay and lesbian grassroots groups in the African nation.

Responding to the proposed Anti-Homosexuality Bill, which could imposed the death penalty or life imprisonment on gays, the AJWS set up the fund and created a website for individuals to donate to it. 

"AJWS's work is propelled by a very basic value: the essential dignity of every human being," AJWS president Ruth Messinger said in a release. "Through the creation of the 'Urgent LGBT Uganda Fund,' in conjunction with our broader advocacy efforts, AJWS is taking the lead in the Jewish community and in the broader faith-based community to ensure that all people — regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity — can realize their full, true selves."

"The government's position is that the existing provisions in our penal code against homosexuality are strong enough and that this new bill is not necessary," Kajara told AFP.

"The penal code already sufficiently covers this issue."

But Ethics Minister James Nsaba Buturo, a staunch supporter of the bill who has in the past said "homosexuals can forget about human rights," dismissed Kajara as not representing the government on the issue.

The bill, already before parliament, would impose the death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality," applicable in cases of rape of a minor by a person of the same sex, or where one partner is HIV positive.

It would also criminalise public discussion of homosexuality and could penalise an individual who knowingly rented property to a homosexual.

Homosexuality is already illegal in Uganda, punishable by life imprisonment in some instances and is an offence of "carnal knowledge against the order of nature" under the penal code.

Widespread condemnation by rights groups and western nations have been heaped on the legislation.

The United States and the European Union have called on Kampala to scrap the bill, criticising is as a setback to human rights.

"I stand by the bill," Bahati said. "I will not withdraw it. We have our children in schools to protect against being recruited into (homosexuality). The process of legislating a law to protect our children against homosexuality and defending our family values must go on."

That leaves the decision to the country's parliament, which will discuss the legislation in late February or early March.

Although President Yoweri Museveni has told colleagues he believes the bill is too harsh and has encouraged his ruling National Resistance Movement Party to overturn the death sentence provision, Information Minister Kabakumba Matsiko said the parliament will act independently of the presidency.