African Leadership Centre Fellows present Documenting Women's Experience in Peace and Security at the CSW New York on 2nd March, 2011

African Bloggers Statement on David Kato and Uganda

"We the undersigned wish to express our deep sadness at the murder of Ugandan human rights defender David Kato on 26th January 2011. David's activism began in the 1980s as an Anti-Apartheid campaigner where he first expressed a strong passion and conviction for freedom and justice which continued throughout his life. David was a founding member of Sexual Minorities Uganda where he first served as Board member and until his death as Litigation and Advocacy Officer and he was also a member of Integrity Uganda, a faith-based advocacy organization.

David was a man of vision and courage. One of his major concerns was the growth of religious fundamentalism in Uganda and across the continent and how this would impact on the rights of ordinary citizens including lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered / Gender Non-Comforming and Intersex [LGBTIQ] persons. Years later his concerns were justified when the Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill backed by religious fundamentalists was outlined in 2009. David was also an extremely brave man who had been imprisoned and beaten severely because of his sexual orientation and for speaking publicly against the Anti-Homosexuality Bill.

Many African political and religious leaders in countries such as Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Zambia, Gambia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Malawi and Botswana, have publicly maligned LGBTIQ people and in some cases directly incited violence against them whilst labeling sexual minorities as “unAfrican”.

In October 2010, the Ugandan tabloid, Rolling Stone published the names and photographs of "100 Top homos" including David Kato. David along with two other LGBTIQ activists successfully sued the magazine on the grounds of "invasion of privacy" and most importantly, the judge ruled that the publication would threaten and endanger the lives of LGBTIQ persons.

The court did not only rule that the publication would threaten and endanger the lives of LGBTIQ persons but it issued a permanent injunction against Rolling Stone newspaper never to publish photos of gays in Uganda, and also never to again publish their home addresses.

Justice Kibuuka Musoke ruled that,

"Gays are also entitled to their rights. This court has found that there was infringement of some people’s confidential rights. The court hereby issues an injunction restraining Rolling Stone newspaper from future publishing of identifications of homosexuals."

Every human being is protected under the African Charter of Peoples and Human Rights and this includes the rights of LGBTIQ persons. We ask the governments of Uganda and other African countries to stop criminalizing people on the grounds of sexual orientation and afford LGBTIQ people the same protections, freedoms and dignity, as other citizens on the continent."

Anengiyefa Alagoa, Things I Feel Strongly About

Anthony Hebblethwaite African Activist

Barbra Jolie, Me I Think

Ben Amunwa, Remember Ken Saro-Wiwa

Bunmi Oloruntoba, A Bombastic Element

Chris Ogunlowo, Aloofaa

Eccentric Yoruba, Eccentric Yoruba

Exiled Soul ExiledSoul

Francisca Bagulho and Marta Lança, Buala

Funmilayo Akinosi, Finding My Path

Funmi Feyide, Nigerian Curiosity

Gay Uganda Gay Uganda

Glenna Gordon, Scarlett Lion

Godwyns Onwuchekwa, My Person

Jeremy Weate, Naija Blog

Kayode Ogundamisi Canary Bird

Kadija Patel Thoughtleader

Keguro Macharia, Gukira

Kenne Mwikya, Kenne’s Blog

Kinsi Abdullah Kudu Arts

Laura Seay, Texas in Africa

Llanor Alleyne Llanor Alleyne

Mark Jordahl, Wild Thoughts from Uganda

Matt Temple Matsuli Music

Mia Nikasimo, MiaScript

Minna Salami, MsAfropolitan

Molisa Nyakale

Mshairi, Mshairi

Ndesanjo Macha Global Voices

Nyokabi Musila, Sci-Cultura.

Nzesylva, Nzesylva’s Blog

Olumide Abimbola, Loomnie

Ory Okolloh, Kenyan Pundit

Pamela Braide, pdbraide

Peter Alegi, Football is Coming Home

Rethabile Masilo, Poefrika

Saratu Abiola, Method to Madness

Sean Jacobs, Africa is a Country

Sokari Ekine, Black Looks

Sonja Uwimana, Africa is a Country

Spectre Speaks, Spectre Speaks

TMS Ruge, Project Diaspora

Toyin Ajao, StandTall

Tosin Otitoju, Lifelib

Val Kalende, Val Kalende

Zackie Achmat, Writing Rights

Zion Moyo, Sky, Soil and Everything in Between

Is being Eight years dear Mother...

Dear Mother, Abebi Okin, it's being eight years since you ended your earthly journey.Your prolonged sickness that was later diagnosed as mysthenia gravis, was uncommon but we were looking at something else all the time. The true colour of human nature showed during your predicament. I learnt, I witnessed, I grew up and I suffered, all which you knew and was grateful for. You were a discplinarian with a true heart. You made your mistakes but you would not be judged because your kind is rare. Now there you are and no longer here, a lot is happening but I am staying strong, I pulled myself out of a lot of toxic situations, relationships and events and I wish and hope you would understand. I am doing what is best for me because you taught me well and I miss you for not being here.


My mother, Comfort Bamidele Musiliat Abebi, you are gone but not forgotten. Life is not that rosy but I am stronger, I am the best of me and I am getting better still. I am one independent minded woman, the way you have always thought and noticed. Mother, I have not seen your grave for seven years but you are always present in my thoughts, in my heart and in all I do. I will mention too that my husband lost his dear mother same day two years after you had gone. Well, if you meet, both of you would have a nice time to chat and embrace each other...


Rest in peace dear mother, you will always be remembered as one woman with a true caring and loving heart. REST ON MUM, there are lots to tell you but will tell them to your grave. There are a lot to tell... I still plan to have a Mysthenia Gravis Foundation in your name. Yes I do. This will help others that might suffer like you did... REST ON IYA MI!

HE VALUES NOT MY KIND

Women are feeble-minded he said

A hormonal deficiency he hinted

Really?

Women are weak in making decisions?

Women are thoughtless, foolish with low intelligence?

What anatomy have you studied?

What theory are you propounding?

Not that I guess but I know this not to be true

I can’t shake the feeling though of how lowly he thinks of my species

Of what opinion he has concerning the bringers of life

The raisers of kings and queens

The other half of the human race

It is but a fact that many have played down their intelligence

to satisfy the egoistic attitude of their men

Many that are culturally and religiously taught to obey their men at all cost

And lied to to believing that their hormone differences equals low intelligence

Many still will rise against all odds to challenge the status quo

My learned ex-tutor whom I believed to be open-minded

Thought my kind to be feeble-minded and used the ‘f’ word freely

Then I query, what am I doing in his space

If he thought me and my kind to be feeble-minded?

If he values not my kind?

Am I not so low in intelligence to be in his presence?

Incapable of decision making to earn his respect?

I ask again, what am I doing in his presence and space?

Yeah feeble-minded, he thinks of my kind!

............LS AND I............

The fantasy, the flashes and the flushes

The idea and reality of it

LS and I

The moments we cannot take back

Lingered on in the memory

Illuminating the mind and soul

Vivid is yesterday

The singular passionate kiss

The fire extinguished for eternity

The music at Bukoye’s abode

Forever in mind and soul

Where it plays on for all eternity

Time has passed, the world has changed

The feelings never to be rekindled

An indication of a goodbye to yesterday

Time to face reality

To snap out of yesterday

And embrace today without LS and I

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Blind Trust At Its Peak

I meant to bear my heart out on how deep I now see and witness corruption in Nigeria. I wanted to talk about my experience visiting Kirkiri, my exprience dealing with a unprofessional and unscrupulous laywer but something else has suddenly occupied my mind and I really want to share. This is one of the reasons I don't do religion any more, why I believe in building my own relationship with God and why I will rather trust my instinct and not think a pastor has it all, knows it all and is always Godsend!


A struggling guy eventually got a car from his company after 3 years of a loyal service. They had an arrangement for him to pay it off from his salary in a convenient manner. Well, the obedient and pastor-trusting guy, went to his church to get his car blessed. The pastor then saw a vision to collect the car and use it for 3 Months for God to surprise this guy as He promised in the vision. The pastor-trusting guy gave the car to his Godsend pastor. 7 Months later, he went to collect his car back but the pastor still ask him to believe and hold on for the micracle of multiple cars that will come his way. The case has now being taking to Lagos State Mediation Centre. I won't be surprised if this pastor has changed all the particulars to his name since the nice guy conveniently gave them away.


And this guy will still not let the church members know anything about this whole drama in order not to ruin his God's work. God's work? How many people will this pastor tell vision of bring your money, your house, your wife and they will gullibly believe it Where is the sanctuary of safety? I guess the only sanctuary of safety is in building a direct relationship with God and trusting Him and not be afraid to say no to all the so-called people of God if you have to!