Peter Tatchell

The world scout headquarters in Geneva has written to the Chief Scout and the Chief Commissioner of the Uganda Scout Association, expressing concern about how the Anti-Homosexuality Bill will impact on scouts and scout leaders. They have also questioned the sponsorship of the Bill by the Chair of the Uganda Scout Board, David Bahati MP.

This action follows protests to the Scout Association UK by the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) human rights group OutRage!.

OutRage! has urged the disaffiliation of the Ugandan scout organisation from the world scouting movement - the World Organisation of the Scout Movement.

Peter Tatchell of Outrage! said:
"A leader of the scout movement in Uganda is demanding the execution of anyone who is convicted of repeated homosexual acts or related offences. This could include the execution of gay scouts and scout leaders.

"Chairman of the Scout Board of Uganda, David Bahati, is proposing that all serial homosexual offenders should be sentenced to death. This could include young people, such as scouts.

"Mr Bahati is a Ugandan MP. His Anti-Homosexuality Bill is currently before the Ugandan Parliament. It stipulates the death penalty for serial offenders who have previous convictions for same-sex relations or for related non-sexual offences such as aiding and abetting homosexuality, funding gay advocacy groups, having a same-sex marriage or promoting homosexuality. Some of these related offences could also be committed by heterosexual Ugandans. They would also be liable to a death sentence for repeat offences.

"In other words, a person does not have to be gay or to have gay sex in order to be sentenced to death under the Anti-Homosexuality Bill. Serial offending and previous convictions for the non-sexual offences are sufficient grounds for execution.

"The Bill also specifies life imprisonment for minor same-sex acts, such as kissing, touching or caressing with homosexual intent.

"Although Mr Bahati and his Anti-Homosexuality Bill do not explicitly mention or target the scout movement, the draconian clauses and  punishments threaten all lesbian, gay and bisexual Ugandans, including members of his own scouting movement.

"A person in authority who fails to report an offender to the police within 24 hours will face three years in jail, which could apply to scout leaders who fail to inform on gay scouts. Likewise, the promotion of homosexuality carries a sentence of five to seven years jail. This could criminalise any scout leader who provides affirmative, supportive advice to a gay or bisexual scout. The offending scout leader does not have to be gay. They could be heterosexual."

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