Someone Needs to Re-read His Scout Law

I was looking at the Scout Association’s website this morning and an article on the front page caught my eye. It seems that National Chairman of The Ugandan Scout Association David Bahati, who is a member of the Ugandan Parliament, is the author of a Private Members Bill which calls for the death sentence for repeat practicing of homosexuality.

The UK Scout Association has issued this statement –

Statement on Ugandan Private Members Bill

23/02/2010

In mid-January, Headquarters became aware of a Private Members Bill being tabled in the Ugandan Parliament by David Bahati MP, who is also the National Chairman of The Ugandan Scout Association.

We noted that the legislation being proposed appeared incompatible with our understanding of Scouting’s values and principles. Our immediate response was to raise the matter directly with the World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM) who have responsibility for coordinating Scouting on a global level.

Following these representations, and progress thus far, we are now issuing a formal statement that details the latest position in the development of this issue:

Statement

Since the mid-1990s, The Scout Association has been clear and unequivocal in our equal opportunities policy and practice especially regarding sexual orientation, as befitting our role in contemporary society.

We are recently aware that the Ugandan Parliament has received a Bill that calls for the death sentence for repeat practicing of homosexuality. This Bill is presented by a Ugandan MP (David Bahati) who is also currently the National Chairman of the Uganda Scout Association. In terms of our own policies and understandings, we find the Bill not only discriminatory and contrary to the sanctity of life, but also completely incompatible with our interpretation of the values of our worldwide Scouting Movement.

We have already drawn our grave concerns on this to the attention of the Secretary General of the World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM), and we are subsequently aware that the issues are now subject both to WOSM’s direct engagement with the Chief Scout of Uganda (Mrs Maggie Kigozi) and to ongoing global consideration by members of the World Scout Committee.

We hope that the bilateral and very positive educational and solidarity projects that have been fostered for many years between Scout Groups in the UK and Scout Groups in Uganda on such matters as health and community development will not be prejudiced or compromised by this situation; we await the formal and public response from the Scout Association of Uganda and from WOSM, whereupon we will review our position.

Alan Craft, Chair of Trustees,

Derek Twine, Chief Executive

23 February 2010

Now two things come to mind. First of all he needs to remember the forth part of the Ugandan Scout Law

4. A Scout is a friend to all and a brother to every other Scout.

His bill is hardly friendly is it?

Second, the Ugandan Scouts need to drop this nasty piece of work as soon as possible. Again on the Mission page of their website it states –

The mission of Scouting is to contribute to the education of young people, through a value system based on the Scout Promise and Law, to help build a better world (my italics) where people are self-fulfilled as individuals and play a constructive role in society.

Hmmm, can’t really build a better world if you want to go around executing a proportion of the population because of the way they are.

It’s good to read that the SA have raised this with the WOSM, but it will be interesting to see how they respond and what, if any, action they take. This kind of attitude has no place in today’s society and in Scouting and indeed never has done!

3 Replies to “Someone Needs to Re-read His Scout Law”

  1. Nick
    Whilst I totally agree that this Bill is totally not scouting I think we must tread carefully. In politics in any contry it may not be the views of the person putting forward the bill beliefs they may just be a puppet.

    I think the Scout Association have done it right here they have made their position clear and ask WSOM to investigate. There are other countries that some would say are more civilised and yet have a similar policy on Homophobia perticularly in Scouting.

    The really intresting thing about this Bill is the punishment is for Repeat Offending – So it is ok do to it once, and is that repeat offending with the same person. Therefore you can practice Homosexuality with lots of random people because your only committing the offence once, your not REPEAT offending.

    YIS

    Kiff

  2. I think it is very good diplomacy to make a very clear stance against the Ugandian Bill, though my greatest fear is that WSOM will sit back and say nothing, wary of upsetting some people within the movement…
    Mr Bahati may indeed be a puppet, and also remember that in our oath we promise we do our BEST to uphold the Scout Law. I choose to believe that Mr Bahati does what he can, being a politician. It might be that the Bill would look even worse without his influence!
    Although it is never-the-less good to remind him about the scout law. BUT IF he REALLY believes in this Bill, he must consider leaving the movement all together, not just stepping down!
    BTW, Bahati is one of the loveliest names I know: It means Lucky in Swahili.

Comments are closed.