National Security Online Resource Center

Several African countries have serious HIV problems, including Uganda which has a 5% infection rate (which is lower than several of its neighbors). But Uganda has come under fire for a proposed law to further criminalize homosexuality. According to the bill under consideration, which could (possibly) be considered part of an effort to reduce HIV infections in the country, calls for those convicted of having homosexual sex to be sentenced to life in prison. Also, those who are convicted of the aforementioned crime who are also HIV-positive are guilty of “aggravated homosexuality” and can be sentenced to death. Other crimes include failure to report homosexual activity, punishable by three years in prison, and advocating for homosexuality, which would be punishable by seven years in prison.

The United Kingdom and Canada swiftly denounced the move and added that if passed, Uganda’s international standing for supporting human rights would drastically decrease. As a Canadian official states, “If adopted, a Bill further criminalising homosexuality would constitute a significant step backwards for the protection of human rights in Uganda.”

African countries should take acts to reduce HIV rates, but this is just outrageous. HIV is certainly not a problem unique among homosexuals. All this proposed bill would do is further perceptions that Uganda does not respect basic human rights. The Ugandan government should listen the West’s objection to the law and act accordingly.

One of the longest and most brutal civil conflicts in the world continues to plague Central Africa. The Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and its infamous leader, Joseph Kony, have thus far evaded attempts at capture and sustained its reign of terror over civilians in Northern Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Southern Sudan. The most recent attempt to incapacitate the group was led by Ugandan forces, with financial and technical assistance from the United States, was poorly planned and executed, resulting in a massive retaliation by the LRA. A series of attacks, known as ‘Christmas Massacres’, launched by the LRA from December 24 to January 17 have led to nearly 900 deaths and 160 child abductions, mostly in DR Congo.

Known for its brutal tactics, including forcing children to become soldiers and sex slaves, the LRA forces have dwindled in numbers to only about 1000 trained soldiers. However, with small groups of five to six men, it has attacked villages across Southern Sudan and Northern Congo and uprooted hundreds of thousands from the area. The truce signed in 2006 between the LRA and the Ugandan government failed to bring about conclusion to the decades-old conflict and thus, the Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni opted for military action.

Human Rights groups have criticized the UN and the governments of Uganda and DR Congo for failing to protect civilians from the LRA following the failure of the military to capture Kony. The dire situation will likely continue and potentially worsen unless there is a serious effort by the two governments to protect civilians targets. A more serious approach by the government of Congo is also necessary to prevent child abductions, a major source of manpower for the LRA.