Juju the ally: Malema and EFF come to defence of Uganda’s LGBTQI+ community

Scores of Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) members marched to the Ugandan high commission in Pretoria on Tuesday to protest against the East African country’s bill which criminalises those that identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQI+).

Anti-homosexuality bill

The Ugandan parliament has already passed the anti-homosexuality bill, which makes homosexual acts punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

The bill is yet to be signed into law by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.

Addressing supporters, EFF leader Julius Malema said: “I am here to say to the comrades and the people of Uganda, we are with them against the tyrant – because we cannot allow any regime in the world to kill people on the basis of identity. We are victims of identity politics. We were killed because we were black.  The only crime we committed is being black.”

“Today, all those who are being killed in Uganda is because it is a community that belongs to LGBTQI+. How are you going to identify that a person is gay? What scientific method are you going to use (that she is lesbian)?,” asked Malema.

ALSO READ: ‘Rooted in hate’: EFF slams Uganda’s ‘draconian’ anti-homosexuality bill

♦️In Pictures♦️

CIC @Julius_S_Malema with Major General Tolito infront of the Ugandan Embassy signing the memorandum opposing the anti-homosexuality bill#GayRightsAreHumanRights pic.twitter.com/gonC49WgcY

— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) April 4, 2023

‘Hatred’

The EFF leader also said that it was appalling that one’s sexuality could be decided on based on physical appearance.

“All you are going to do is to look at a person and out of hatred, decide that this one is gay – this one is lesbian. It cannot be correct that people are identified on the basis of hatred.

“So we are saying to Museveni, leave the people the way they are. It is not our problem, it is not your problem, it is not a problem. What if Museveni is gay and he hasn’t discovered it? And he can discover it now at an advanced age.”

While Human Rights day falls on 27 April in South Africa, Malema said it could not be celebrated while an African counterpart’s rights were being infringed.

“We can’t say we are celebrating human rights in South Africa this month, yet there is another part of Africa which is not celebrating human rights. No one, must take away the life of an individual or a community, on the basis of their identity.”

“We salute you comrades for being brave and for standing firm with the LGBTQ+ community of Uganda.”

Demands

The EFF has urged Museveni to not sign the anti-homosexuality bill.

“The Economic Freedom Fighters calls for an end to harmful rhetoric against persons identifying as LGBTQI+ in Uganda and across the continent.

“Harmful rhetoric results in intolerance and physical violence being purported against innocent people. Persons associated to LGBTQI+ people face insurmountable stigma as a result of their relation thereof. Freedoms of association should never be threatened, especially on the basis of homophobic hatred,” the party said in a statement.

READ MORE: Uganda’s anti-LGBTQ+ law sparks outrage