By Culton Scovia Nakamya

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has disclosed the nature of threats he has received from the west since the passing of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2023.

While meeting NRM Caucus MPs in Kololo on Thursday, President Museveni said he had received threats to withdraw financial support towards the fight against HIV should he sign the bill.

“One of the things they’re threatening is to kill our 1.2million people who have been surviving on PEPFAR funds to buy drugs for HIV/AIDS, so that we don’t buy the drugs for our people, and they die,” said Museveni.

Threats to withdraw HIV funding puts over 1.2M people living positively at stake. Every year Uganda receives $120M in donation to facilitate the purchase of anti-retroviral drugs for people living with HIV.

According to a press statement issued by the presidential press unit, Museveni is ready to face the west in the interest of African values and cultures.

“This is a simple matter which we can fight but parasites can’t fight. If you fear to sacrifice, you cannot fight. In order for you to fight I want to first cure you of parasitism. Europe is lost and they also want us to be lost. Those who want an easy life will end up being prostitutes,” He said.

The anti-homosexuality bill was passed on 21^st March 2023. The president has faced pressure from religious, cultural and local leaders to sign the bill into law, while the west has sent several appeals to the president to respect the rights of Ugandans who identify as gay, lesbians, bisexuals, transgender or queer.

“Homosexuality is not sickness. The bill is before you and there’s no contradiction at all. Those people trying to convince you otherwise want to water it down,” Minister Rwamirama said.

The Caucus meeting convened at Kololo independence grounds resolved to recall the bill in question for review.

Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka advised that the bill in its current form criminalizes even those who voluntarily come out to have practiced homosexuality and need to be helped.

Museveni has agreed to sign the bill only after when the recommended changes are made.

These include provisions to accommodate people who come out to seek for help.

Next week, the President is set to meet the Legal Affairs Committee of Parliament, the mover of the motion Asuman Basalirwa and other interested parties to finalize the bill.

“Since we have agreed now, I’m going to return that bill, and you quickly deal with those issues and we sign it,” He assured.