Motive behind Uganda's Anti-gay policy

Kampala, Uganda: Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye on Wednesday criticised tough new anti-gay laws, saying that homosexuality was not "foreign" and that the issue was being used to divert attention from domestic problems. On Monday, President Yoweri Museveni signed a bill into law which holds that "repeat homosexuals" should be jailed for life, outlaws the promotion of homosexuality and requires people to denounce gays. "Homosexuality is as Ugandan as any other behaviour, it has nothing to do with the foreigners," said Besigye, who instead criticised foreign Christian evangelical groups for their "very rigorous activity" against gays. Besigye, who in recent years has been regularly blocked from holding rallies in public, is one of the first Ugandans who is not from the gay-rights community to criticise the law openly.

"Homosexuality has been documented in Uganda long before any foreign interference with our country," he said. The passing of the bills was largely a popular move in Uganda, where Museveni -- in power for 28 years -- faces reelection in 2016. Besigye accused the government of having "ulterior motives" and using the issue to divert attention from other issues, including Uganda's military backing of neighbouring South Sudan's government against rebel forces. "Whenever there are some controversial issues in the country, it is brought up and everybody talks about homosexuality," he added, also noting "scandals of corruption".