KAMPALA – David Bahati, Minister of State for Trade, Industry, and Co-operatives (Industry), has responded to the United States’ decision to disengage Uganda from the AGOA market, emphasizing that Uganda prioritizes its cultural and moral values over economic considerations.
“We took it (decision on Anti-Homosexuality Act) soberly, consciously, well knowing that those who oppose us would blackmail us and want us to take some decisions that affect us both economically and even politically. So we still stand and we shall forever stand for the decision we made against homosexuality in this country and whatever comes, we are ready to find alternative to mitigate the effects of that decision,” said Bahati.
In an interview with journalists who cover Parliament in Kampala, Minister Bahati expressed unwavering support for Uganda’s stance against homosexuality, citing the decision on the Anti-Homosexuality Act as a conscious and principled choice to defend family institutions and uphold biblical and cultural views on marriage.
“We aren’t really scared about this market, it is a market that we would have loved to supply, but if it comes to making a choice between allowing homosexuality in our country and going with the American market, then we choose to fight homosexuality. That is our choice and that is a choice that we stand with and we aren’t scared about this because we know that we have alternative markets and what we need to do now is to continue improving the standards of our goods so that we can supply the markets in Europe, Asia and the African market alone, is enough to consume what we are producing now,” added Minister Bahati.
Minister Bahati stated that while Uganda regrets losing the American market, it is steadfast in its commitment to combat homosexuality. He highlighted the country’s readiness to explore alternative markets and enhance the quality of goods for export to Europe, Asia, and the African market.
Minister Bahati said, “It is unfortunate that the Americans have taken this decision, it is unfortunate that they have chosen the wrong path of history which is supporting a man marrying a man or woman getting married to a woman and we continue to engage them, we continue to pray for them so that they can change their minds, but Uganda will never change our position on the issue of homosexuality.”
Minister Bahati also pledged to continue praying for a change in the American perspective on homosexuality, asserting that the NRM Government will persist in defending human rights within Uganda and across Africa, ensuring punishment for those involved in human rights violations.
The Minister added, “We will wait for February and see whether Uganda will vanish from planet earth, but what I know, we will continue to build our capacity for imports substitution and we hope that at one time, they realize that the decision that they have taken is a wrong decision. We will continue to defend the human rights because the NRM Government is a chief defender of human rights even on the continent, we still have that good record and where there have been abuses of human rights, those abuses are punishable according to the law.”
Minister Bahati concluded by expressing disappointment in the U.S. decision, hoping for a realization of its alleged erroneous stance. He affirmed Uganda’s unyielding position on homosexuality, emphasizing the country’s determination to build capacity for import substitution and defend human rights.
This recaps the legislative journey of the Anti-Homosexuality Act in Uganda, passed in May 2023, with amendments and President Yoweri Museveni’s assent in May 2023.
