In an opinion piece published on allAfrica.com today, writer Andrew M. Mwenda addresses a chasm in the quandary between the passing of the anti-gay legislation being proposed in Uganda’s parliament, and the proposed cutting off of international donations to Uganda.

Mwenda writes: “Those hostile to homosexuals argue that gays are promoted by the West with money to undermine African culture although they have not produced even a scintilla of evidence to support this claim. But by threatening aid cuts if the bill is passed, donors are inadvertently proving the purveyors of this argument right.”

The hard-nosed op-ed continues, painting the West’s threats to cut aid as actually a chance for Western leaders to address their constituent, while also likening bill drafter David Bahati as objectively an ally to gays in Uganda.

Their electorates see the bill as a barbaric move to suppress a fundamental right. However, donors need to be careful not to be seen to be arm-twisting the government. The biggest challenge gays and lesbians face in Uganda is not state law (however draconian) but deeply held cultural bigotry by the society.

Therefore, a democratic government would find it difficult to resist popular pressure to hang homosexuals. Multitudes of Ugandans are homophobic and would not hesitate to sanction genocide against gays. To secure attitudinal change through force would require unprecedented violence. Our challenge is how to foster openness and tolerance. This can only be achieved through open debate.

This is why although Bahati is subjectively homophobic, he is objectively an ally of gays. By introducing his bill with provisions to kill gays, he has inadvertently opened debate on a subject that has been taboo in Uganda. In the process, he has given gays and progressive intellectuals an opportunity and a platform to enlighten Ugandans about sexual diversity and expose the fallacies that inform homophobia.

Mwenda has written a lot of scathing political pieces, mostly focusing on Western colonialism and its ill effects on African culture and economics.

How important is his point to the overall argument of the proposed “Kill the Gays” bill in Uganda? Post your thoughts in the comments section.