Breaking: Rwanda Minister of Justice Disputes Reports of Anti-gay Legislation

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I just received the following press release from Frank Mugisha at IceBreakersUganda.org, an LGBT support group based in Kampala, Uganda. Is the Rwandan government backing down from criminalizing homosexuality in the face of increasing international pressure and scrutiny? Or are they trying to save face by claiming the reports of the pending homophobic legislation are either overblown or merely rumors? Time will tell.

"Gov’t cannot criminalise homosexuality"- Minister Tharcise Karugarama

BY EDWIN MUSONI

KIGALI - The Minister of Justice Tharcisse Karugarama has condemned and refuted reports that government intends to criminalize homosexual acts saying that sexual orientation is a private matter not a state business.

His reaction comes after international organizations, including rights groups and gay communities across the world raised an alarm in several reports accusing the government of trying to consider a law against homosexuality.

“The government I serve and speak for on certain issues cannot and will not in any way criminalize homosexuality; sexual orientation is a private matter and each individual has his or her own orientation - - this is not a State matter at all,” said Karugarama.

The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, the Coalition of African Lesbians (CAL), and Rwanda’s Horizon Community Association (HOCA), recently issued statements demanding that that the Rwandan Parliament withdraws article 217 of the penal code regarding homosexuality.

The Minister accused the ‘groups for either acting in total ignorance or intentionally presenting wrong facts for their own political motives.’

“They allege that the law was to be passed in Parliament on December 16, but sincerely there was nothing like that in the parliament that day.”

He clearly stated that; “these people should distinguish between issues debated by private parties and concrete proposals from the government.”

He hastened to add that the government has held a meeting with its development partners on this particular issue and told them their position ‘which is that the government has no intentions whatsoever to criminalize homosexuality.

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Rwanda to Vote Today on Criminalizing Homosexuality

On the heels of Uganda's pending "Kill the Gays" bill we now hear that the Rwanda Parliament is set to take up a bill the would penalize homosexual acts with a prison sentence of five to ten years and fines that range in the equivalent of  US$350 - US$1750. The average annual income in Rwanda is just US$370.

The legislation would also criminalize LGBT activism, outreach and counseling organizations.

Box Turtle Bulletin reports:

"One key phrase of the proposed penal code, “encourages or sensitizes,” would have the effect of criminalizing advocacy on behalf of LGBT people. It would also severely impact the ability to deliver health services to LGBT people.

The Horizon Community Association of Rwanda (HOCA) and the Coalition of African Lesbians (CAL) have denounced the bill (PDF: 56KB/3 pages), saying that Rwandan citizens still experience gross violations of human rights. “Our country and our people refuse to recognize the fact that we exist,” said Naomi Ruzindana, President of HOCA. “As far as they are concerned, there are no lesbians or gays in Rwanda. Well, we are here, we exist. We are ordinary people like everyone and all we want is for our people and our government to recognize our existence and the fact that it is our basic human right to live our lives the way that we want and choose.”

The Rwandan Parliament will also consider another section of the Penal code that would criminalize sex workers in the country."

 Box Turtle reports that once again, that Pastor Rick Warren's finger prints are all over this latest African anti-gay move. Thirty-seven nations currently outlaw homosexuality. Read more at boxturtlebulletin.com.