UGANDA BANS DOCUMENTARY

The Ugandan government has banned the screening of a documentary about human rights workers because it will “indoctrinate the youth on homosexuality”.

According to the Daily Monitor, Uganda’s Ethics and Integrity Minister, James Nsaba Buturo, blocked the film – which includes scenes depicting how Uganda’s anti-gay laws hamper human rights works – being shown at the National Theatre in Kampala.

Buturo told the Daily Monitor: “Some people are determined to change the morals of our country and are using all tactics. We shall put up resistance because Uganda doesn’t believe in homosexuality.”

He noted that schoolchildren had been invited to attend the viewing, which was hosted by the United Nation Human Rights office of the High Commissioner (UNHR), Uganda Human Rights Commission and Human Rights Centre Uganda.

The cinema was reportedly locked when organisers arrived for the screening.

Buturo is a staunch supporter of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill that was introduced in parliament in October 2009. It imposes the death penalty in certain instances of homosexual conduct. Homosexuality is already illegal in Uganda and carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

Buturo has accused international human rights groups, including Unicef, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, of “promoting homosexuality”.