by Nomad
The African nation of Uganda has introduced some of the harshest anti-gay laws in the world. What role has your tax dollars played in supporting the one-man rule in there? How have US evangelists help to foment anti-gay hatred?
Uganda, the self-designated "the Pearl of Africa" is by many analysts' reckoning, a failed state. Thirty three percent of the population do not have access to safe water and 52% of people are without sanitation. Infant mortality stands at 130 in 1,000, and 26,000 children under the age of five die every year die from diarrhoeal diseases.
There's also the raging AIDS epidemic, which has reportedly killed somewhere between 52,000 - 81,000 and has orphaned around 1 million children.
Altogether a hard sell for the Ugandan Minister of Tourism.
But if one is looking for a bright side, then Uganda's human rights record isn't it.
And there is no better proof that the African country is failing by how much its government respects the human rights of all its citizens.
Amnesty International, in its most recent report on Ugandan human rights record, cites abuses to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly as commonplace. Despite investigations by the Uganda Human Rights Commission on accusations of torture by police, "no action was taken to hold law enforcement officials responsible for human rights violations to account, or to grant victims and their families an effective remedy."
The influential Foreign Policy (FP) magazine noted:
Amnesty International, in its most recent report on Ugandan human rights record, cites abuses to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly as commonplace. Despite investigations by the Uganda Human Rights Commission on accusations of torture by police, "no action was taken to hold law enforcement officials responsible for human rights violations to account, or to grant victims and their families an effective remedy."
The influential Foreign Policy (FP) magazine noted:
“From all appearances, the democratic opening in Uganda is closing and human rights are the collateral damage.
This is not at all shocking or unusual for Uganda.
In 2011, a UN report heavily criticized President Yoweri Museveni, Uganda's leader since 1986, and his government's human rights record is only one step up from a predecessor. Idi Amin. The report highlighted the numerous problems, such as a plan to allow detention without charge for a period of six months, Museveni's record of silencing the press, as well as excessive force used by the government against opposition protesters.
In 2011, a UN report heavily criticized President Yoweri Museveni, Uganda's leader since 1986, and his government's human rights record is only one step up from a predecessor. Idi Amin. The report highlighted the numerous problems, such as a plan to allow detention without charge for a period of six months, Museveni's record of silencing the press, as well as excessive force used by the government against opposition protesters.
Furthermore, the UN report urged
the government to decriminalize
homosexuality and legislate against torture. What was the response?
