20140228-HE-Museveni

THE WORLD MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, INC.
L’ASSOCIATION MEDICALE MONDIALE, INC
ASOCIACION MEDICA MUNDIAL, INC
Centre International de Bureaux
Immeuble A «Keynes» Website : www.wma.net Postal Address :
13, chemin du Levant Telephone : (33) 4 50 40 75 75 Boîte Postale 63
01210 FERNEY-VOLTAIRE Fax : (33) 4 50 40 59 37 01210 FERNEY-VOLTAIRE Cedex
France E-mail address : wma@wma.net France
The President of the Republic of Uganda
His Excellency Yoweri Museveni
State House
P.O. Box 25497
Kampala
Uganda
By e-mail: press@statehouse.go.ug February 28th
, 2014
Your Excellency,
On behalf of the World Medical Association we write to express our deep concern about the new
law in Uganda concerning homosexuality. We would respectfully submit that the notions, science
and ethics you relied on were incorrect. Pursing this pathway will detract from the many advances
in healthcare and public policy you have overseen in Uganda and indeed the many inspirational
displays of international leadership you have driven on behalf of Ugandans.
As discussed by WMA leaders on Ugandan TV and with the Hon Ruhakana Rugunda, Minister for
Health on 24th
February, it is worrying that such a law is violating what is now being seen across
most of the World community as a basic human right, namely to decide about one’s sexual
orientation. We do note that this was not the case in the past in many Nations of the world but now
is; we hope the legislation in Uganda can reflect international human rights in a short time. It is
noteworthy that the amended legislation has seen the unworkable notion of Mandatory Reporting
removed.
The heinous crimes of child abuse and paedophilia are abhorrent and totally unacceptable but have
nothing to do with sexual orientation but criminal actions.
It is correct to state clearly and unequivocally, we are not aware of any medical reason or ‘fault’ for
bi-sexual or homosexual behaviour. Further, it is highly questionable that homosexuality poses a
public health risk. There are sexual behaviours that may be practiced by people that are unwise and
unacceptable because they are dangerous – whoever practices them whether homosexual or
heterosexual. Such behaviours do result in a “public health risk” classification of homosexual or
heterosexual persons in general.
WMA page 2
Our Policy statement is attached. As an example of such laws change, in the State of Victoria
Australia where penal codes have the same British Colonial tradition, the State has pledged to
abolish convictions for consensual adult gay sex (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-13/calls-for-national-
abolition-of-gay-sex-convictions/5198118).
We urge you to reverse this policy.
Sincerely,
Dr. Mukesh Haikerwal AO Dr. Otmar Kloiber
Chairman of Council Secretary General