For a wider look at the issue of gay rights in Africa, Daljit Dhaliwal interviews Michael Heflin, the director of the Lesbian, Gay, Transgender, and Intersex Rights Initiative at the Open Society Institute.

Read our blogwatch: Gays in Africa face increasing homophobia.

A protester outside Uganda’s UN mission in New York City on November 19, 2009. Photo from Flickr user riekhavoc

Over the last six months there has been a worrying surge of institutional homophobia in a number of African states.

In October 2009, Uganda proposed an Anti-Homosexuality Bill that if enacted would introduce the death penalty for those who are HIV-positive and homosexuals with multiple convictions. In addition, South Africa is set to appoint an openly homophobic journalist, Jon Qwelane, as the country’s ambassador to Uganda. Qwelane has published several articles in which he expresses his disdain of gays and has even likened homosexuality to bestiality.

Meanwhile, in Malawi the first gay couple to marry openly was arrested in early January 2010 and faces up to 14 years in prison if the prosecution prove they had sexual relations; and lawmakers in Nigeria are drafting a bill to outlaw same sex marriage.

Gay activists affected by the continued criminalization of their sexuality have written about daily life under the shadow of the proposed Ugandan bill.

From GayUganda, commentary on “sexual minorities in Uganda and Africa”:

We live like ostriches, heads buried in the sand. We party and dance, and forget that we can be deprived of life and freedom. Because we are what we are. I was with some friends who are HIV positive. Asked them what they think about the bill. Silence.

I think I lost my temper. Told them in detail what the bill says. If they are ever caught having sex, them, because they are positive, then they are due to have the death penalty. I don’t joke, because those are the facts.

GayUganda also writes that the planned bill targets more than just homosexual males and makes no concessions to individual circumstances:

[T]his bill is hell on earth. We can’t fight it from the shadows. And, we have to fight it in the face of people who are ready to tell lies, even to the text of the bill, even when it is absolutely specific in language. Have gay sex when you have HIV, doesn’t matter whether you a man or woman. On conviction, life in prison, or death. It doesn’t matter that you have used any protection. It doesn’t matter that you have a partner who is a consenting adult. It doesn’t matter that you don’t know that you are HIV positive.

The Ugandan Member of Parliament responsible for the bill, David Bahati, acceded on January 21 that he will “amend some clauses” in the face of domestic and international opposition and President Yoweri Museveni has distanced himself from the proposed legislation. Observers and activists are concerned, however, that despite the setback to the bill, it will be put before parliament in the near future.

From AfroGay, commentary on gay rights in Africa:

[D]o you remember that the bill was going to be presented to the floor of Parliament in January 2010. Well, keep your eyes open for it. You are not going to see this bill tabled in Parliament this month. February perhaps? Ah, maybe, but most likely not. March? Oh, who is counting?

Others are concerned about the bill’s potential to influence African countries where homosexuality remains a criminal offense.

From BlackLooks, a blog on African affairs:

The Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill remains in place. It will set a dangerous precedent across the continent if it gets passed on any level let alone with the death penalty.  It could influence and encourage those behind the Nigerian Bill as well as the governments in Gambia, Senegal, Malawi, Kenya and Zambia which have all taken a draconian stance towards same sex relationships in their countries.

-James Matthews

By Monday, security forces had restored order and Kampala was relatively calm — but the turmoil points to mounting tensions ahead of the Uganda’s 2011 election.

Several radio stations were shut down following the outbreak of violence. Watch a video exploring the riots from Kenyan television channel NTV:

Twitter users in Uganda — including UgInsomniac and solomonking –  have been providing updates on the situation using the hashtag #kampala.

Zehra Rizvi — Twitter user zehrarizvi — describes her experience using the micro-blogging service during the riots:

The real power of tweeting came to me during the last few days of rioting we’ve had in Kampala. [...]

I went out to the office and was driving in eerily quiet streets (it’s just a ten minute drive) and was standing in the office and all of a sudden heard a rat ta tat tat. No one else really blinked, so I was like, hmm, OK, my imagination. Second time I heard the sound, I was like, umm, guys, what’s that? Answer: Police firing live rounds into crowds to disperse them. [...]

I came home and tweeted about it. Just one message. And all of a sudden, got a response from someone I didn’t know. How @UgInsomniac found my tweet, was a mystery to me but then I saw the hash tag. I did a search on Kampala on twitter and was plugged in BIG time to everything. I spent the next day and a half glued to twitter and watched as the Kampala stories came flooding in.

It was incredible. There has been a media blackout and the only way for me and lots of others, including major newspapers to follow what was going on was through twitter. [...] And it’s not that it was just news flowing in. It was about the community of news and the support I felt from everyone who was tweeting. We were all in it together.

Blogger “Sarah” at “The Malans in Uganda” described the scene on Friday:

I was at the office this morning. I had an interview scheduled so I had to go. While I was interviewing the guy, shots were ringing out and police cars were hurtling up and down the roads, sirens blaring. The poor guy was terrified!!!! Not sure if it was the interview or the fact that he had to make his way back home through all the problem areas.

View photos taken by riot observers and an interactive map aggregating reports of rioting and violence at the Web site Uganda Witness.

A blogger at “Paradox Uganda” explores the background of the violence and muses about the future:

My reading of the president is that he has been decidedly anti-tribal, making every effort to unify the sense of identity of his people. But he’s also accused of favoring his own people, the Banyankole.

The reaction of these few uncertain days has revealed that the latent tribalism is close to the surface, ready to blow. There are some disturbing parallels to Kenya in 2008, or Rwanda in 1994, though nothing here has happened on those scales yet. One big difference is that Uganda has an intact and functional government and military who are acting to stop rather than increase violence. The root issue seems to be the insecurity of living too close to the edge of survival, the nagging doubt that the world just may require that one kill or be killed, grab or go without.

President Museveni has been accused of interfering in Buganda kingdom matters. Photo: IRIN

Blogger “Rhino” expresses concern for the country’s future, asking fellow citizens to “wake up to reality”:

[O]ur greatest enemy is apathy. There is a lot of it out there and it saddens me. When the riots were underway, I took a breather from my duties as a citizen journalist and had a chat with my friends. I could not believe how unconcerned they all were. It seemed as if the chaos did not have anything to do with them. I told them that this violence represented far bigger concerns that just Mengo and the government. I told them that there is a lot of bitterness out there and any self respecting citizen should pay attention. There were reports that some people were being targeted because they had “long noses” which meant that they hailed from lands other than Buganda. The tribal and religious divisions among us threaten to lead to chaotic times not dissimilar to those of ages past and there is no doubt that the government has enacted policies that have greatly exacerbated this problem. It has become clear that fragmentation of the country has served little else than prop up the ruling party and benefit the well connected while the ordinary Ugandan slips further into poverty and desperation. We must all wake up to reality; we can no longer afford to be indifferent. Even those of you who have no desire to engage in partisan politics should realise that it is up to us the people to fix our nation. Our leaders can only do so much if each one of us does not give to the other the very rights we reserve for ourselves. People have died, let their lives not go unnoticed; let us learn from these things. Let us remember the dead.

A blogger at “Gay Uganda” writes that though peace has returned, tensions remain:

Peace, calm has returned to Kampala.

Oh, I dont doubt that the armoured personell carriers (mambas) are still patrolling the city. I dont doubt that there are thousands of plain clothes intelligence people mingling with the cautious crowds. They are there. And we know it, and so we have to be cautious. [...]

And the Baganda? Bitterness. Angered, bitter.

Blogger “Rogue King” writes that the peace is much too fragile:

I also believe that it is too early to say life is back to normal. It’s a very delicate standoff, and any wrong move by either side could spark off fresh (and possibly worse) violence.

As always, we can only hold our breath and wait.

Worldfocus shares a report from partner A24, a news organization based in Nairobi, Kenya.

For more on the LRA’s use of child soldiers and Uganda’s efforts at couseling and rehabilitation, watch PBS Wide Angle’s Lord’s Children.The documentary explores how child soldiers attempt to reclaim their lives in Uganda.

Guards at a displaced persons’ camp in Kitgum try to protect its residents from LRA attacks.

This week, Uganda, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo mounted a joint offensive against Uganda’s anti-government rebel group, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), in northeastern Congo. The LRA’s leader, Joseph Kony, is hiding in a Congolese jungle after fleeing Uganda.

Twenty-two years of fighting between the LRA and the Ugandan government have killed thousands and displaced millions. In recent months, the rebels have attacked Congolese civilians and abducted hundreds of people.

Glenna Gordon is a writer and photojournalist based in Kampala, Uganda. She writes at World Politics Review that regional cooperation far beyond this week’s offensive is needed to resolve the situation lest LRA violence further destabilize other countries.

LRA: Everyone’s Problem, No One’s Responsibility

Rumors abound about Joseph Kony, the leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army, a group that has terrorized northern Uganda for the past 20 years and now is thought to be active in Congo, Sudan and Chad. [...]

One reason so many rumors persist is to fill the void left by a paucity of verifiable information. Another reason is to fill the void left by the paucity of the LRA’s agenda.

While few rebel groups have what would be considered a sound ideology, the LRA has a particularly dubious set of beliefs. Among other things, they believe they are protecting the Acholi people of northern Uganda from a government run by southerners. Yet the LRA’s actions are a big reason nearly 2 million Acholis have lived in internally displaced persons camps for decades. 

The Ugandan government has contributed to the problem as well. Unable — or perhaps unwilling — to defeat the LRA militarily, it called on the International Criminal Court to issue a warrant for Kony’s arrest. A ceasefire was subsequently announced, and Kony agreed to sign the preliminary framework for a peace treaty. 

But on the dozen occasions when he has been set to sign the final deal, Kony has balked, arguing that he wants the ICC warrant removed before he’ll consider coming out of the bush. [...]

The people of northern Uganda are clearly still suffering, living in claustrophobic IDP camps with few opportunities for education or even self-sufficiency. But on the other hand, the LRA has not attacked a village in Uganda since 2005. 

Instead, they’ve been active in Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, and Central African Republic. Where once there were horrible tales in Uganda of children kidnapped and forced to kill their family members, of innocent villagers mutilated, and of entire swathes of countryside destroyed, those stories are now surfacing in other countries.

By letting this conflict go on for so long, Museveni, the ICC and every player in the Uganda peace negotiations have contributed to allowing Kony to operate as before — so long as he doesn’t do it in Uganda.

Kony was Uganda’s problem. Now, he’s become Central Africa’s problem. Of course, everyone’s problem risks becoming no one’s responsibility.

To read more, see the original post. 

For more on the LRA’s actions and its use of child soldiers, see Wide Angle’s “Lord’s Children.”

The views expressed by contributing bloggers do not reflect the views of Worldfocus or its partners.

Photo courtesy of Flickr user John & Mel Kots under a Creative Commons license.

Hospitals receive some help from volunteer organizations like Doctors Without Borders that provide medical staff, but low salaries and long hours deter many Ugandan doctors from service.

Worldfocus special correspondent Martin Seemungal travels to a small hospital in northern Uganda where patients come by the hundreds and wait for hours to receive treatment from a handful of dedicated caregivers.

Below, bloggers write from Uganda about their experiences on the ground.

Blogger “Arie” describes walking through a crowded Ugandan hospital, writing that the “Western nightmare stereotypes about hospitals here just aren’t true” and the facility is sanitary, despite poor resources and overcrowding.

Blogger “Helen” of the University of North Carolina Health Care program reports on her meeting with Ugandan Minister of Health Stephen Mallinga, in which they discussed the country’s struggles to address the health needs of rural areas.

A blogger at “Just in Uganda” writes that shortages of tuberculosis medication and anti-malarial drugs are disappointing in a country that has made such gains and modernized.

American doctors Scott and Jennifer Myhre write from rural Bundibugyo, Uganda, to remember their friend, Doctor Jonah Kule, who died a year ago during an outbreak of Ebola.

The gorillas are a main attraction for tourists to Uganda, as many are habituated and accustomed to human visitors. Tourism revenue has funded some gorilla protection efforts.

Worldfocus special correspondent Martin Seemungal treks through the wilderness to learn how these animals are being threatened and helped — witnessing some precious new arrivals.

For more on endangered mountain gorillas, read an account from park rangers in the nearby Democratic Republic of Congo, where gorillas fall victim to the country’s ongoing war: Park rangers return to Congo’s imperiled gorillas.

Africa’s 26-country trade zone.

A summit ended Wednesday in Kagala, Uganda, with the creation of a single regional free trade market encompassing 26 African nations.

As part of the three-party agreement, the nations plan to create a single airspace and customs union, implement regional broadband access and provide compensation to poor member countries. Leaders see this as the first step toward an Africa integrated and empowered both economically and politically.

Blogger Chirol of “Coming Anarchy” sees the agreement as grounds for optimism, but notes that transportation and corruption may pose threats to the new system.

Blogger “EB” agrees that the agreement could potentially make the African economy a more powerful player in world trade, particularly with India and China.

Emma Kansiime at the “Pearl of Africa” blog supports the move while questioning its potential, citing a lack of interest and the possibility of corruption and foreign domination.

Blogger al-Amin of of “Signed, AK” expresses hope for success, expecting cheaper inter-African trade and fewer imports, resulting in less African dependence on foreign governments and institutions.

African countries have struggled to find economic success in the global economy, and African leaders have long advocated for a more unified continental effort.

Dancers celebrate the national day of the Republic of China. Citizens at a celebration in Berlin for German unification.

Over the last week, countries around the world celebrated independence and national pride days. Bloggers in these countries posted their experiences.

Lesotho celebrated its independence day on Saturday, Oct. 4. John, a doctoral candidate in Lesotho, writes that the day was relatively quiet compared to July 4 in the U.S.

Germany celebrated Unification Day on Oct. 3, commemorating the country’s 1990 reunification. A resident in eastern Germany writes of continuing tension, but is confident that the country will overcome lingering bitterness.

Guinea celebrated its independence day on Oct. 2. The “Fed in Guinea” blog writes about being woken up by the sounds of drums, part of the dancing and festivities to come.

The small island nation of Tuvalu celebrated its independence on Oct. 1. Paul Lyon’s provides a history of the day with an entry at “The Diary Junction Blog.” He also writes about “Treasure Island” author Robert Louis Stevenson’s visit to the island.

Nigeria celebrated the anniversary of its independence on the same day, and the “Nigerian Adventure” blog writes about the country’s celebration of varying tribes and cultural heritage.

Cyprus celebrated its independence on Oct. 1, although the “Glowing in the Dark” blog writes “how a country can be independent when there are no less than three foreign armies on its soil is hard to understand.”

China celebrated National Day on Oct. 1. “The Littlest Things” blog posts images from the day and some fun facts. Watch a video of Chinese fireworks here.

Botswana celebrated 42 years of independence from Britain on Sept. 30. Bloggers and Peace Corps volunteers Richard and Stacy post a description of the celebrations, including dancing and bonfires.

Croatia and Uganda will both celebrate their independence later this week, on Oct. 8 and 9, respectively.

Photo courtesy of Flickr user SUN Eric under a Creative Commons license.