With effect from 2023, CPAR Uganda has intentions to intervene in Pallisa District and to include Pallisa among its geographic area of coverage. And so, our Managing Director did receive the invitation letter, inviting non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to a meeting with the Pallisa Resident District Commissioner.
Due to engagements prior scheduled, our Managing Director was not able to attend the meeting, but has every intention to follow up with Pallisa District authorities to get copies of the minutes of the Pallisa RDC-NGOs meeting. However, In the meantime, a post about the meeting on the Facebook page, “Pallisa District Local Government Official,” has caught our attention. In particular, the report:
“NGOs warned against working with external forces to promote homosexuality in the country.”
CPAR Uganda, like other non-state actors, especially civil society organisations working in Uganda and which receive external grant funding and donations, is concerned of the potential for abuse of the provision in the Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023 (AHA2023) which outlaws ‘promotion of homosexuality.’
“The definition (in AHA2023) of what constitutes ‘promotion’ is a catch all provision that includes criminalising provision of services and housing to homosexuals.”
Chapter Four Uganda
Indeed, the vagueness of AHA2023 on what it means by ‘promotion of homosexuality’ is among reasons given by the multiple challengers of it who have filed cases in the Constitutional Court. A PDF of the Act is available to download from the Chapter Four website.
Nevertheless, CPAR Uganda remain cautiously optimistic that we will be able to continue our work and mission to train and mentor young people to possess an attitude of self-reliance, and the requisite will and skill to innovate and to initiate interventions that cause positive change in their respective communities. Our proposed intervention in Pallisa District is still in plan and it fits in the development assistance that Pallisa needs.
During the second half of the year, CPAR Uganda will pilot in Pallisa our Campaign against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence which has a component of mentoring and training youth in the use of theatre for development to do participatory action research; ignite conversations and to propose solutions on important issues affecting and afflicting their communities, such as sexual and gender-based violence.
We, civil society actors in Uganda, need your solidarity with us during these challenging times. Please share this post to others in your network so they stay informed on our realities at the grassroots. Thank you.
Featured photo: Ms. Norah Owaraga, Managing Director, kneeling to receive gifts during beneficiary field visits.
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