UGANDA: Online campaign launched by agay Citibank customer in the USA calls on Citibank and Barclays to condemn recently introduced Ugandan legislation that could make homosexuality in the African country punishable by execution or life in prison

Record ID: 277625

  • Title: UGANDA: Online campaign launched by agay Citibank customer in the USA calls on Citibank and Barclays to condemn recently introduced Ugandan legislation that could make homosexuality in the African country punishable by execution or life in prison
  • Date: 2nd March 2012
  • Summary: KAMPALA, UGANDA (FEBRUARY 29, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS EXTERIOR SHOTS OF BARCLAYS BANK VARIOUS EXTERIOR SHOTS OF CITIBANK VARIOUS OF GAY RIGHTS ACTIVIST JOHN WAMBERE IN HIS OFFICE
  • Embargoed: 17th March 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Uganda, Uganda
  • Country: Uganda
  • Topics: Legal System,Business,International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA7M30DXXM1TSR761UY88V6RDOU
  • Story Text: Ugandan gay activists have signed a petition by a Citibank customer from Washington D.C., calling on Citibank and Barclays to protest against an anti-gay bill tabled by a Ugandan legislator which has drawn fresh condemnation from western nations.
    Both banks have heavily invested in Uganda.
    The bill was originally proposed as a private member's bill in 2009 by David Bahati, a legislator with the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party, provoking an international outcry.
    Gay activist John Wambere joined others around the world in petitioning the banks, saying the bill is harsh and calling on parliamentarians to reject it.
    "I signed the petition just a few minutes ago and in my opinion the bill is very harsh and it needs to be thrown out of parliament. It doesn't need to be re-tabled, it doesn't need to be considered because already we have a penal code," said John Wambere.
    The bill was shelved last May. The cabinet took it over and, after widespread international condemnation, said in August last year it had decided to drop the bill because existing laws were sufficient to deal with homosexual crimes.
    A small but vocal anti-gay movement, led by several MPs and a group of bishops, said it was determined to reintroduce the proposed legislation.
    Citibank has invested heavily in Uganda and is a major leader in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Uganda. Barclays is the third largest bank and has more than 1,000 employees and 51 branches throughout the country.
    "In my opinion, I think it is a good idea, these companies, not only the two but other companies that are involved in the private sector, should come out openly and issue statements, they should speak out and condemn the whole tabling of the bill because the more they come out it is more of being sincere, in line with their work, their clients and having respect for people's orientation," Wambere added.
    Homosexuality is taboo in many African nations. It is illegal in 37 countries on the continent, including Uganda, and activists say few Africans are openly gay, fearing imprisonment, violence and loss of jobs.
    Uganda's parliament had dropped the legislation earlier, but the controversy re-emerged when ruling party Member of Parliament David Bahati resurrected the bill earlier this year.
    "Well, the world needs to know that 95% of thirty three million Ugandans are against the evil of homosexuality. They need to be reminded that in the last parliament, over five million people signed a petition requesting the parliament to pass the bill, so as we said before, there is no amount of pressure, no amount of intimidation, no amount of dirty tricks that force the parliament of Uganda from defending the children of Uganda," said Ugandan legislator and sponsor of the bill, David Bahati.
    In the U.S. and U.K. respectively, Citibank and Barclays have been strong supporters of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights. Both companies have non-discrimination and harassment policies, both offer health insurance benefits to domestic partners, and both have resource groups to help their LGBT employees.
    "We are an autonomous country, we have the privilege and liberty to formulate our laws and set a legal framework that is going to help guide our morals and guide our development. Why should some come in, I sincerely condemn in the strongest terms Citibank and Barclays for being partners in this particular prospect," Ugandan Ethics and Integrity Minister, Simon Lokodo said.
    Ghana and Tanzania have said they will resist pressure to legalise homosexuality after Britain threatened to cut aid to countries that deny gay rights.
    LGBT
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register