ZAMBIA GAY RIGHTS ACTIVIST PAUL KASONKOMONA ACQUITTED

A Zambian court has acquitted a human rights activist on charges of promoting homosexuality, in a ruling hailed as a boost for gay rights in Africa.

Paul Kasonkomona was charged with "soliciting for immoral purposes" after arguing for gay rights on a TV show in April 2013.

But on Tuesday a magistrate found that the state had failed to prove its case.

Homosexuality is illegal in deeply conservative Zambia - as it is in some 40 African countries.

On Monday, Uganda toughened its anti-gay laws - introducing life sentences for gay sex and same-sex marriage, banning the "promotion" of homosexuality and requiring citizens to report suspected homosexuals.

Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands have blocked some direct aid to the Ugandan government as a result.

'Landmark judgement'

Mr Kasonkomona was arrested and released on bail after arguing that recognition of gay rights was necessary if the Aids epidemic was to be effectively addressed in Africa.

"The magistrate was clear: public discussion is important," Anneke Meerkotter - a lawyer at the Southern Africa Litigation Centre, which campaigned for Mr Kasonkomona - told AFP news agency.

"This is a great victory for freedom of expression. The mood in court was one of great relief. Kasonkomona did not deserve to be arrested for expressing his opinion and the court ruling vindicates his rights."

Mr Kasonkomona told AFP his acquittal was a "landmark judgement" and vowed to keep to speak out "for the rights of all Zambians
BBC 

‘PROPHET’ BUSHARA FOLLOWERS AWAIT HIS RESURRECTION

‘Prophet’ James Wazemba addresses mourners during the

burial of ‘Prophet’ Wilson Bushara of the World Message

Last Warning Church, in Nakaseke District on Monday.

As hundreds of mourners converged at Bukoto village in Nakaseke District for the burial ceremony of the self-proclaimed prophet, Wilson Bushara, his followers spoke of how they hope their spiritual leader will miraculously rise from the grave.

‘Prophet’ James Wazemba, a co-founder of Bushara’s World Message Last Warning Church, told mourners on Monday that they expect a miracle. Mr Wazemba claimed that ‘Prophet’ Bushara was “not dead but has been taken away by the angels and will soon be back to accomplish the work they began”.

“The prophet is gone but we expect a miraculous rise from the grave because he is not dead,” ‘Prophet’ Wazemba said. He added: “We have faced persecution for the last 18 years but we were able to withstand the harsh environment. The persecution is a lesson to those who tried to destroy us that we are still around and will come out more powerful than we have been.” He said before the end of the year, the West and Arab World would come to Nakaseke “to witness the works of God in this place.”

Bushara drew national attention when he announced that he had a revelation that the world would end in September 1999. He later changed his statement.

Bushara was taken to Kiwoko Hospital last Thursday after his condition deteriorated. He has been fighting High Blood Pressure for a long time since his release from prison in 2002.
Pr Daniel Muhoozi denied claims that the prophet has been leaving a lavish life at the expense of his followers.

Bushara’s followers claimed that government agencies stopped them from establishing a Church at Bukoto when they reportedly persecuted Bushara and his followers in 1998. This was in the aftermath of his claim that the world would end on June 30,1999. Many of his followers sold off their properties, including plots of land in preparation for life in heaven.

Police dispersed the group, which had camped at Bukoto in Wakyato Sub-county on September 18,1999. Bushara faced charges of defilement in 2001 but the cases were later dismissed by a High Court judge due to lack of evidence. Bushara later re-emerged in 2011 at his home in Bokoto where the group reportedly started distributing ‘Last Supper’ invitation cards. Police later stopped the exercise.

Monitor 

UGANDA: MUSEVENI 'SEEKS US ADVICE ON HOMOSEXUALITY'

President Yoweri Museveni is asking the US to advise Uganda's scientists about homosexuality, as he considers whether to sign a law increasing punishments.

Mr Museveni's spokesman said the president would not sign the law until he had received the scientific advice.

President Yoweri Museveni says he wants to know whether

homosexuality is a choice or genetic

Last week he said he had decided to sign the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, which parliament has passed.

The US - one of Uganda's largest aid donors - has warned that enacting the bill would complicate relations.

President Barack Obama described it as an affront, and a danger to, Uganda's gay community.

BBC regional analyst Richard Hamilton says President Museveni is trying to please a conservative local constituency while avoiding alienating Western aid donors.

Homosexual acts are already illegal in Uganda. Under the proposed legislation, those convicted could face life imprisonment.

The law would also make it a crime not to report gay people.

'Abnormal'

In a statement, Mr Museveni said: "I... encourage the US government to help us by working with our scientists to study whether, indeed, there are people who are born homosexual.

"When that is proved, we can review this legislation."

Presidential spokesman Tamale Mirundi told Reuters news agency the bill would be on hold for now "until more conclusive research is done, and that's what the president is saying".

Mr Museveni originally refused to sign the bill, saying that it was wrong to punish people who were born "abnormal".

But then government officials said Ugandan scientists had advised him that homosexuality was a behavioural choice.

The scientists' report said there was no definitive gene for homosexuality but it was not an "abnormality" and it could be influenced by environmental factors.

"The practise needs regulation like any other human behaviour, especially to protect the vulnerable," it said.

In December a gay rights campaigner spoke of her fears about the legislation

The private member's bill originally proposed the death penalty for some offences, such as if a minor was involved or the perpetrator was HIV-positive, but that clause has been dropped.

Uganda already has legislation banning gay sex between men, but the proposed law sharply tightens restrictions - and covers lesbians for the first time.

Promotion of homosexuality - even talking about it without condemning it - would also be punishable by a prison sentence.

BBC