(As posted to my Gazette blog)

Speaking of arrogant leaders (see preceding post) . . .

There is an understandable backlash against the appointment of one Sam Kutesa, Uganda’s foreign minister, to become the ceremonial head of the United Nations’ general assembly on June 11. Apparently, he will be elected by acclamation for the one-year post, The Guardian is reporting.

Says The Guardian: “As the appointment nears, questions are being asked about his track record of alleged corruption, as well as his role as cabinet member of a government that has enacted one of the most virulent homophobic laws on the globe. Voices of disapproval have spread from Uganda to the general assembly’s home in New York and to the US senate.”

There is even a petition on change.org, says The Guardian: “A Change.org petition calling on the Obama administration to revoke Kutesa’s visa to enter the U.S. and thus prevent him taking up the presidency has attracted almost 3,000 signatures. It was written by a Ugandan, Milton Allimadi, who edits the New York-based site Black Star News. Allimadi said that Kutesa represented “the very antithesis of what the UN is supposed to embody globally – peace, security and human rights for everyone”.”

While denying Kutesa entry to the United States and preventing him from filling the UN post would seem the logical thing to do, there might be some method to the madness of actually letting him take up the position: his presence in New York would no doubt inspire demonstrations by civil rights advocates and would bring more worldwide attention to the anti-LGBT atrocities being committed in Uganda because of its draconian, stone-age laws — which Kutesa as foreign minister has defended.

So, some good could come of all this: It might be a golden opportunity to speak out against Uganda’s madness. Peacefully, of course.

– Jillian