Being gay in Uganda is tough. Being a gay activist in Uganda is much tougher.
What Does it Mean to be Gay in Uganda?
read more
Uganda
Postcard from…Kampala
To drive in Uganda’s capital is close to impossible. It is a madness of deep and treacherous potholes, dust, winding streets, beggars that overflow to the roadways. So I leave my car at the hotel and hire a driver to take me to the Kasubi Tombs that burned to the ground earlier this year during riots and tribal violence.
Things do not go smoothly.
U.S. Hijacks ICC conference
The United States managed to foil the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) adoption of the crime of aggression as part of its mandate during this month’s review conference in Kampala, Uganda. But the U.S. presence at the conference demonstrates a new engagement with the ICC, and the Obama administration’s interest in helping to shape international law.
Denouncing Dictatorship in Uganda
Three years ago, I would get into long discussions with a friend in Uganda about the United States, global political affairs, and the situations in African countries. On Ugandan politics, he delivered impassioned speeches about democracy and responsible governance, and I often thought I was looking at Africa’s next great leader. He knew the rules of Ugandan politics but refused to accept them. Instead, he advocated for a higher standard in government, one that put the interests of the country’s citizens ahead of political gain.
AFRICOM’s Ugandan Blunder
In early February, The New York Times released information detailing the involvement of the U.S. military in the bungled Ugandan mission to oust the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) from northeastern DR Congo. Seventeen military advisors from AFRICOM worked closely with the Ugandan People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) to plan the attack, which the United States further subsidized through the donation of satellite phones and $1 million worth of fuel. Although the United States has been training the Ugandan military for years, this is the first time it has directly assisted in carrying out an operation.
U.S. Ambivalence Undermining Historic Uganda Peace Talks
Historic peace talks currently underway between the Government of Uganda and rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) are the best opportunity in over a decade to end Africa’s longest running war. Yet the Bush administration and State Department–distracted by unrest in the Middle East and priorities that lie outside of Africa–have been ambiguous about the U.S. position on the talks, undermining opportunities to help end one of the world’s worst humanitarian nightmares.