Most (maybe all) of the Ugandans with whom I communicate are not ‘gay sex practitioners’, as far as I know, so if that’s what you’re really looking for, I can’t help you.

*yayness*

As for attitudes to their gay compatriots, I have seen people change their minds. I know this idea causes you discomfort, but I’m convinced that this is happening. (Only today, I lunched with a Ugandan lawyer, and we agreed strongly on this very point. You are, of course, at liberty to disagree with both of us …)

Of course, there are Ugandans who agree with gay sex or subscribe to libertarian ideology. Those who subscribe to that ideology are the ones who most likely to accept arguments offered by gay sex practitioners about morality, culture and traditions not having any part in framing the laws of a country. The question you should be asking is how many lawyers in Uganda agree with your Ugandan lawyer friend’s opinion? BTW, I am not suffering from any discomfort—-whatever gave you that idea !

Maazi, I’m amazed that you would repeat your Botswana 2003 2004 2006 line after it was taken care of by James Onen… it’s a worthless line. You can let it go now.

James Onen, did not address it because it seems he doesn’t know much about it. He asked me to provide him with copies of the 3 verdicts, which I have declined to do since he can request the copies from his foreign gay sex buddies. The Botswana case is quite important because the line of reasoning employed by the judges in the Southern African nation can be relied upon by our own judges in Uganda in case any potential court challenge against the Penal Code Act and its amended descendants.

parkin – I understand your passion but I caution against stereotyping an entire nation since the judge is also Ugandan. Ugandans do have many things to worry about as do we. However, very persuasive people there have convinced many of them that gays are the source of many of their problems. Any people is capable of losing focus. The same is true here and there and also in places like Pakistan where majority Muslims oppress Christians.

It has to be recognised that Ugandan society is changing very fast, and some (maybe even many) Ugandans are unnerved by this rapid change. My view is that this could the ‘framework’ for much ‘anti-gay sentiment’ sentiment in that country. But many Ugandans are intelligent and resourceful, and that country will find a way to manage the changes that are taking place to their society. Many young, educated Ugandan interlocutors of mine do recognise that ‘homosexuality’ is an issue that has been blown out of all proportion recently and welcome this judgement as an important ‘corrective’ to that situation. It may surprise readers of this blog that research by the Per Forum has suggested that Uganda may be rather more ‘tolerant’ than some anti0gay extremists would like to claim.

Today’s judgement is not the only indication of a greater sense of proportion. The arrest of ‘pastors’ who have tried to use accusations of ‘homosexuality’ to discredit rivals is another sign that those who run the country are disposed to take a more thoughtful, moderate line that many of us would have dared to hope for fifteen months ago.