The Ugandan parliament has launched an attack on the US government for its latest travel ban on a number of government officials over human rights violations.
The United States (US) Department of State early this week announced a visa restriction policy on Ugandans, particularly government officials who are believed to be behind the human rights violations and repression of marginalised groups in the country.
On Wednesday, the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among led other MPs in condemning the US government for its actions that they said shows lack of respect to Uganda’s sovereignty.
Among said whereas a total of 348 MPs who supported the Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023 had a travel ban imposed on them and on her side, a visa request was rejected, she doesn’t regret backing the controversial law.
“We don’t regret passing this law, and I want to thank the President for really assenting to this law. I am proud and happy with what the President did. We will continue protecting the family, protecting the rights of our children and our country and we will not live in handouts. My visa was cancelled, have I died? As I have said, so long as you don’t cancel the visa to Bukedea and Buyende, I have my home. I will go there freely,” Among said.
“The blacklist that they are talking about, don’t care don’t worry about that, you have all that you need in this country. So long as your kids aren’t being sodomised, this business of saying you are going to use people’s children must stop.”
The mover of the bill and Bugiri Municipality MP, Asuman Basaalirwa said the legislation is the most popular law in the history of this Parliament, noting that he is happy with what he did.
“As a country, we must stand on the ground. God who created us will make us survive, this idea of saying we are cutting aid, we don’t go to America, Britain, yes, it is their right. But nobody should determine how we think,”Basaalirwa said.
Soroti West division legislator, Jonathan Ebwalu asked Ugandans opposed to the Anti-Homosexuality Act to relocate to nations like US and UK where such values are embraced, saying he is ready to shed blood in order to fight against homosexuality in Uganda.
“Our people told us go and pass the Anti-Homosexuality Bill and we did. Those who don’t want that law let them leave our country they go and live in the United Kingdom or United States. But this law, we are going to protect it with our blood, sweat and our souls. If they want to cut their aid, let them cut, but we are going to defend this law,” he said.
Kole North County MP, Samuel Opio said, “African values aren’t for sale, whether at wholesale price or retail price. We shall stand by these values and we shall not allow this cultural colonization.”
