Ugandan parliamentarians at the 139th Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly in Geneva succeed in rallying other global legislators to oppose a gay debate to introduce the Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgender motion.
Representatives from the pro-gay nations had moved an amendment of the Inter Parliamentary Union rules to have debate on the rights of homosexuals even after objections from mainly Muslim and African members.
The proposal moved by the Committee on Democracy and Human Rights is meant to be considered today during the IPU Assembly sitting but members of the committee decided to introduce amendments to rules that could make it impossible for the General Assembly to change or debate anything passed by the standing committee.
The Committee on Democracy and Human Rights chaired by Tshireletso from Botswana reported that the proposal had got overwhelming support in the Committee, hence the decision should be adopted without debate in the Assembly.
This prompted the current IPU President, Gabriela Cuevas Barron to propose that members lobby and campaign in order to vote on a question whether the Assembly can change the work plan and agenda of the Standing Committees.
Members of the Uganda delegation led by the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, rallied many legislators in different geopolitical groups to support the motion, which could allow the Assembly to amend many issues in the committee report that had already been adopted by a smaller group of pro-gay supporters.
Following the vote, 671 MPs voted against the proposal with 120 abstaining throwing the Ugandan MPs in jubilation for their stand against any gay debate in the Assembly.
Kawempe North Hon Latif Sebagala thanked the Speaker of Parliament of Uganda Rebbecca Kadaga for lobbying other speakers to support the motion and also thanked countries that stood firm and supported the motion to allow the Assembly to amend the committee reports.
Busiki County MP Paul Akamba referred to the vote as a first win in the battle that they came ready to fight.
