Uganda looks set to raise the penalty for homosexuals from life imprisonment to the death penalty. Adding a new country to the highly dubious list of nations with the death penalty for homosexuals is a farce from an era that belongs to the past in our part of the world. The death penalty for homosexuality is simply unacceptable.

Aid to countries that imprison homosexuals

Norway provides various types of assistance to several countries that have the death penalty or long prison sentences for homosexuality. We gave Uganda NOK 287.5 million more in 2018. A large part of the aid to Uganda goes to emergency aid and education.

I think Norway should consider parts of the aid to countries that practice the death penalty for homosexuals. 5 years ago, a similar law was in force in Uganda. Then Norway protested by cutting support to the country. It has to happen now too.

LGBT a human right

Being able to love and have sexual intercourse with the person you love, regardless of gender, is a basic human right. In any case, we must have zero tolerance for imprisonment or the death penalty for sexual orientation.

Simon Lokodo who is someone like “ethics and interior minister says that:

It’s a concern, but we’re ready. We don’t like extortion. Although we know that this will irritate our financial support partners, we cannot simply succumb to the pressure of those who want to impose on us a culture that is foreign to us.

OK, Simon Lokodo, it is our right to give support to whoever we want. Feel free to call it pressure for me. If he terms this as “imposing on us a culture that is foreign to us”, then we do it with pleasure.

Whether this is cultural imperialism? No, it is protection of basic human rights.

Sources

Nettavisen – NORAD –