For a time now, homosexuality has been a subject of debate. Generations of the elderly, the youth and children have had heated arguments about it. This makes homosexuality one of the most controversial and sentimental sexual sensibilities in a highly moralistic Ugandan public culture.
Several platforms have had a role to play, raising different views, for and against homosexuality. However public dissent has outweighed the views of the liberal minds thus fueling an increasing rate of homophobia within the society.
University students, have spearheaded a number of campaigns against homosexuality. This has manifested itself in the current homophobic wave of ‘anti-homosexuality’ nurtured by them. The predominant youths have resisted attempts of orientation of gay culture in their various fields of study.
Overwhelmed by the dissent, students have ignored signs of this activity within our universities. Often a moment, many wonder if homosexuality has entrenched itself in academic institutions such as universities in Uganda.
One theory that seems plausible is the raunchy party scenes in many Ugandan universities. Every Fridays and weekends with the mention of “plot” many university students storm bars in the name of hanging out. Such public places including Mukono’s famous hangouts such as Casa and Hive, Kampala’s Legends and Ambiance. Girls and boys sweep in from different universities including MUBS, UCU, Kyambogo, MAK.
Scenes in these places are alarming. As party mood heats up, some girls can be seen cozying up to each other. They erotically dance and grope their wild nether regions like it’s no big deal. These girls kiss like it’s no big deal. “We are just having fun after all” some voice their opinions about such occurrences. Girls totally find it okay for two girls to kiss, often rising the sexual appeal of the boys, however, awkwardly react when a similar situation occurred among the boys.
Has homosexuality been embraced in denial or are we just distracted by the desire of sexual objectification to see women kiss each other? I think university students find some sort of amusement or relief at erotic display.
Already it is an open secret that a naked mile run exists in Makerere where freshers are initiated as they are destined for their campus pool where they join other naked students thus promoting promiscuity. Whatever transpires in these orgies remains a shrouded mystery since access is exclusive in the wee hours of the night.
There is the view that LGBT interest groups fund students to promote and practice homosexuality.
University students crave for high end lifestyles which can only be financed if one has to opt for same sex relationships allegedly promoted by LGBT interest groups. Students can’t settle for nothing less than money. They crave for the latest trendy gizmo’s, clothes, cars, houses etc. These students live mysterious lifestyles with uncertain sources of income leaving suspicions.
Homosexuality is rumored to be common among single sex schools. It is shocking to note that there exist single sex universities in Uganda. IUIU has a female campus at Kabojja and it leaves a lot questions unanswered.
UCU and IUIU, restrict open relationships being religious institutions in favour of morality. This breeds the tendency to feel an attraction towards the same sex.
UCU on the other hand has a policy where all new students must stay in university halls for the period of the first year. These are single sex halls with 4 people sleeping in a room. Worse still, they restrict opposite sex visitations. These halls have literally open bathrooms. I often wonder how these students survive in such conditions.
University is meant to be a liberal place where people should be free to engage in healthy interpersonal relationships and foster harmonious co-existence between the opposite sexes beyond the existing restrictions.
All in all, these are but observations from an open mind.
