Amidst hostility, Ugandan Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) have come out bold and held a Press Conference in the capital Kampala. The press was addressed by spokespersons of the day- Kasha Jacqueline, David Kisule, and Victor Mukasa and moderated by Pepe Julian. In the statement read in both English and Luganda (local language) the LGBTI Ugandans refuted ‘recruitment’ allegations by Family Life Network (FLN) and Oundo George (ex-gay convert).

To: Fellow Citizens of Uganda

Over the past weeks, very serious allegations of ‘recruitment’ into homosexuality, have been leveled against Homosexual Citizens of Uganda by various people and institutions.

We have been accused of accepting huge amounts of money for so called ‘recruitment’ drives by the Family Life Network (FLN).

We affirm that we are homosexual. That means that we are different in sexual orientation from most of our fellow Ugandans. That does not mean that we are criminals.

We like all other Ugandans, are responsible and law abiding citizens. Homosexual Ugandans do not condone or support recruitment of people into homosexuality at any level. We strongly and fiercely condemn it.

We know that sexual orientation is not changeable. We are homosexuals and cannot change. In the same way, we cannot change heterosexuals into homosexuals. We cannot recruit. WE CANNOT, DO NOT, HAVE NEVER, AND WILL NEVER ‘recruit’. We can only deduce that those leveling these claims aim to inflame the population against us, a minority group.

The allegation that we receive huge amounts of money for so called ‘recruitment’ services is simply ridiculous. We do not receive any money for ‘recruitment’. It is absurd that some assume we would be paid to do something impossible.

We strongly affirm that these allegations are not only false and ridiculous, they are laughable. We know that Uganda has bigger problems to tackle than spreading or fueling hatred.

Our campaign for gay rights is rooted in the fact that as Ugandans, we deserve the respect and protection of the law, just like all other Ugandans. We do not deserve to be discriminated against. We do not deserve to be criminalized. We do not deserve to be treated as criminals simply because we are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Inter-sex.

We call upon all Ugandans to reject this campaign of falsehoods, inflammatory statements and hatred. Ours is a peaceful plea to inform fellow Ugandans about us, so that fellow citizens do not think that we are, as we have been accused of being; insane, pigs, sick, inhuman, un-natural, un-Ugandan and un-African.

We are fellow Ugandans. We deserve equal rights and protection under the Law and Constitution. We don’t deserve to be demonized and falsely accused in the name of ignorance of whom and what we are.

For and on behalf of all the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender,
Inter-sex, and Queer People of Uganda.

For God and Our Country!