Uganda government has vehemently rejected promotion of homosexuality as pre-condition for trade and economic relations with the European union.
The reaction was made during the just concluded 42nd Session of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly convened in Maputo, Mozambique from 29 October -2 November 2022).
Climate change and food security; health and the fight against terrorism; empowering women for political leadership; migration and sustainable growth; as well as the post-Cotonou ACP-EU agreement have been guiding these deliberations.
However, Uganda has rejected the joint assembly’s position on the post-Cotonou ACP-EU agreement governing trade and economic relations between the EU and all 48 Sub-Saharan countries in Africa, 16 Caribbean countries and 15 Pacific countries (ACP).
According to Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa the agreement contains clauses promoting homosexuality and abortion, a practice he said Uganda vehemently opposes.
“We have discovered that with the Post Cotonou agreement, there are hidden clauses concerning human rights. Clauses to do with sexuality, promotion of LGBT/homosexuality and clauses to do with abortion,” he said.
“We are a society that is not ready for homosexuality and we are a society that is not ready for abortion. As Africa, we believe that the institution of the family is at the core of whatever we are doing,” Tayebwa said adding that, ’the EU is demanding that we take a certain root, they should also know the character of our society’.
The assembly also agreed to the strengthening of maritime security and strict implementation of the rules of international maritime laws.
“It is clear that the prospects and aspirations of the maritime domain are today facing complex and highly dynamic traditional and non-traditional maritime security threats that portend a direct consequence of national security,” said Hon. Gladys Boss Deputy Speaker of Kenya Parliament.
This joint Parliamentary Assembly that brings together African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states and Members of the European Parliament has also agreed to an amendment allowing local exploration of the Oil and Gas industry.
Member states making up this assembly have been looking at deepening cooperation in climate change mitigation efforts and sustainable development ahead of COP27.
