Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni who is currently on his campaign trail has blamed the international LGBT community for the nation-wide protests that broke out on Wednesday after the arrest of his opponent Robert Kyagulanyi. The President said that the protests were being funded and supported by homosexuals who he alleges do not want a stable Uganda.
Museveni made the remarks while addressing people in Kotido who had gathered for his campaign rally. It is no shock that he is quickly falling back on his longtime scapegoat plan where he blames all the nation’s problems on the alleged global support from the global LGBT community. Over the years, the President and several other politicians have said that the international LGBT community funds protests and other programs that dare to speak up against the government’s failures and weaknesses. These sentiments are usually heightened during campaign season and like clockwork, this same tired card is now being played to distract the citizenry from the issue at hand by sparking a wave of homophobia.
The remarks have sparked rage not only within Uganda’s LGBT community but allies as well.
“It gets bizarre by the hour. @KagutaMuseveni says the homosexual groups are the ones fueling the ugly scenes on the streets of Kampala: This is classic scapegoating unfortunately targeting an already vulnerable group to mud-sling political opponents hence turn people against them,” Nick Opiyo a human rights lawyer shared on his Twitter account.
“To be more specific, candidate Museveni claimed, without giving any evidence, that Ugandans are taking to the streets because they are being funded by homosexuals abroad! Textbook gaslighting!” Songa Stone, a celebrated content creator said in reaction to the President’s remarks.
The riots which have now extended into day three broke out after presidential candidate Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine was arrested in Luuka district and taken to Nalufenya Prison in Jinja, a place that has become infamous for use of torture and other extreme and inhumane tactics. Bobi Wine supporters in retaliation to their candidate’s arrest took the streets demanding for his unconditional release.
