UGANDA: Let's Make Things Even Worse

The Ugandan national legislature may soon consider a bill that would outlaw the "promotion of homosexuality" by foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The proposed bill would presumably include NGOs that provide HIV/AIDS relief.

"There are some NGOs who have come here to undermine us, to promote very bad behavior like homosexuality," junior internal affairs minister, James Baba told Reuters on Monday. "As a responsible government we need to check that. They (NGOs) will not be able to do that when we pass this law." The new law will require all charities to declare to the government their annual budgets, their sources of income and will also be obligated to present accountability for any funds received from those sources at the end of every year. Foreign NGOs, he said, would be barred from commenting or involving themselves Ugandan politics. "It is for Ugandans to say whether Museveni should rule or should not rule," Baba said. "As a foreign NGO, what stake do you have in our politics?" he asked. "Our nationals have every right to put their government to task and to question the performance of government, but outsiders should not have this privilege."

The response from the US State Department should be interesting.