United Nations. Uganda’s foreign minister was elected president of the UN General Assembly’s 69th session on Wednesday, side-stepping criticism from US activists opposed to its tough anti-gay laws.
Sam Kutesa was acclaimed president unopposed and to a round of applause from member states, then congratulated by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon four months after the legislation was signed.
Harangued by the media afterwards, Kutesa was forced to deny allegations of personal corruption and that he is homophobic.
Kutesa stepped down as foreign minister in 2011 for 10 months after prosecutors filed graft charges against him over a $4.8 million hotel deal for a 2007 Commonwealth summit in Kampala.
Questioned about his relationship with Entebbe Handling Services, a company he once chaired, and its contracts with UN peacekeeping missions, Kutesa declared an end to his business links.
“I have just issued a statement suspending my interests in all my businesses,” he said.
Asked about his views on gays, Kutesa said he had “no problem” with them, so long as they kept their homosexual behaviour behind doors.
He accused Uganda’s political opposition at home and abroad of trying “to malign my name.”
“I have never been found corrupt. I’m not homophobic and I believe I’m an astute person to lead this organization for the next session,” Kutesa added.
The Ugandan minister was nominated by the African group of nations whose turn it was to take on the presidency.
“Minister Kutesa brings wide-ranging experience to the job: lawyer, parliamentarian, finance minister and foreign minister,” Ban told the assembly.
“I wish him every success as he takes up his important responsibilities.”
Kutesa said he would focus on achievement development goals, such as eradicating eradicate poverty and hunger, climate change, advancing UN reform, peacebuilding and gender equality.
He quoted South Africa’s late global rights icon Nelson Mandela by saying that overcoming poverty was an “act of justice.”
“It is the protection of a fundamental human right. The right to dignity and a decent life,” Kutesa said.
More than 13,200 people have signed an online petition against his presidency, calling on the United States to revoke his visa.
The US-based Human Rights Campaign, which promotes lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equal rights, has called Kutesa’s tenure “a black mark on the United Nations’ commitment to protect the human rights of all individuals.
Credit: THE CITIZEN
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