Uganda's "Kill-The-Gays" Pastor Accused Of Extortion And Bribery To Push Bill

"Poo-Poo Pastor" allegedly resorted to extortion several times.
May know who killed activist David Kato

Rev. Martin Ssempa may have a hard time getting his beloved "kill the gays" bill passed, even though he's tried for years to have Ugandan homosexuality criminalized and some gays put to death. Last week, it seemed that, with the help of Ugandan legislator, David Bahati, the bill would surely go through Parliament, but there were rumors that the bill would be killed. Yesterday, taking matters into his own hands, Ssempa brought what he said were two million signatures in support of the bill and even brought two "ex-gays" to testify how they had been indoctrinated by slain gay activist David Kato.


The two "ex-gays," Paul Kagaba and George Oundo summarily spoke to speaker of Parliament, Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi in the company of Ssempa and Bishop Julius Oyet. They both related how they were "indoctrinated" by Kato by being raped by him after which  both became gay activists for a time until brought under the pastoral influence of Ssempa.


Ssempa, it seemed, had made his final, definitive argument for the (now internationally infamous) "kill the gays" bill.


Then an hour later, George Oundo was able to speak to the New York Times:

“David Kato was murdered; it was a plot,” Mr. Oundo said. “I don’t support the bill.”
I’ve always been gay,” Mr. Oundo said, in a timid but growing voice. “I didn’t choose it.”
“David Kato was the first one who taught me to protect my human right,” Mr. Oundo added.
Mr. Oundo said that his presence alongside Mr. Ssempa at Parliament had been to “protect” himself and that he had been contacted only that morning by Mr. Kagaba about the meeting and offered about $42 to attend. He said Mr. Ssempa had offered him about $2,000 in 2009 to repent and switch sides in the debate, but later reneged. Either way, Mr. Oundo became a poster-child for Mr. Ssempa’s anti-homosexuality movement.

Mr. Ssempa declined to comment on the allegations.

Mr. Oundo's last words to the Times: “If I live or die, I am gay, and if I am buried, bury me gay,” he said.


Martin Ssempa is an enigma of sorts: his siblings died of AIDS and he told himself that it was their promiscuity that caused their death. At the time, he was a celebrity: a national break dancing champion. He eschewed fame for membership in a local Baptist Church and performed in plays to educate students about AIDS. He studied sociology and received a Masters of Arts Degree at Philadelphia Biblical University. NOTE: there is no reference to Mr. Ssempa ever receiving a Masters of Divinity from PBU or any other institution. His own website DOES NOT MENTION ORDINATION OF ANY KIND, yet he insists on being called "Pastor" and dons all the trappings of ordained clergy (see picture above).


Ssempa also gained some international influence by working with George W. Bush's PEPFAR (President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) and Pastor Rick Warren's Saddleback Church. It should be noted that, for some unknown reason, the two had a falling out and Warren has since distanced himself from Ssempa.


While campaigning against homosexuality, Ssempe repeatedly portrayed gays as people who regularly eat feces and practice extreme forms of anal sex, earning him the sobriquet of "Eat Da Poo-Poo" Pastor. He has also been known to accuse his rivals of pedophilia and homosexuality. Such accusations, once substantiated, can lead to catastrophic straits and everyone in Uganda knows that people have been brutally beaten, ostracized and, like David Kato, killed. 


George Ounda's accusations may lead to an inquiry (if Ounda is willing to testify), but any full-blown investigation is doubtful: Ssempa's influence runs as high as President and Mrs. Mousseveni. Ssempa also has connections with the U.S.'s Christian Right: "Prophet" Lou Engle and organizations like Family Research Council and American Family Association. 


I've written before about Rick Warren's influence in Africa, particularly Uganda, so something puzzles me: just what was it that made Warren cut off association with Ssempa? It must have been something quite serious because after all, Ssempa has long held to Warren's motto:


"Whatever It Takes." 

Laughing at Equality: Murdered David Kato Openly Mocked At U.N. By Authors of "Kill The Gays" Bill

Thanks to Joe.My.God: 

According to U.S. embassy cables released by Wikileaks, Ugandan panelists at a 2009 United Nations seminar on human rights openly mocked activist David Kato as he attempted to deliver his speech denouncing his country's still-pending "kill the gays" bill. Attending the meeting were the bill's author, Ugandan MP David Behati, and Pastor Martin "Eat Da Poo Poo" Ssempa.

This is typical of moralizing morons: openly mock the ones you are targeting for elimination. Behati has said that if  he ever thought his own son might be gay, he'd kill him. And "Eat Da Poo Poo Ssempa was close friends with Rick "Whatever it takes" Warren.

High On Uganda's Hit List, Bishop Christopher Senyonjo Will NOT Go Into Hiding.

Even though he is an elderly Anglican cleric, a family man with children, Bishop Christopher Senyonjo has gotten many homophobic death threats - because he has been a champion for gay rights as well as the LGBT community's most loving friend and supporter. He risked his life by attending the funeral of human rights activist David Kato:

“I know that some [gays and lesbians] are discouraged and even not going to church because they are being abused. Even today they are being abused. But please don’t be discouraged. God created you and God is on your side,”

"Hang Them"

Bishop Senyonjo's picture was published on the now-infamous cover of Uganda's Rolling Stone tabloid along with human rights activist, David Kato and the yellow slash "Hang Them!" It should be noted that Bishop Senyonjo is a family man with two sons and several grandchildren. His sons have also received death threats. Of course, it should be noted that in a country trained to be virulently homophobic, Senyonjo is not immune to murder even if he holds the title of "Bishop." Rolling Stone certainly showed no respect in regards to Senyonjo's status when it published the article. Indeed, the latest news is that the tabloid has not the slightest regret in publishing the article and may take pride in its advocacy.

Giles Muhame, managing editor of the weekly Rolling Stone, said in a statement that he condemned the murder and felt "sorry for the family of Kato". But he also repeated various unproved allegations against the activist, and suggested he lived in an area where murder is common. "This looks like any other crime," he told the Guardian in a telephone interview. "I have no regrets about the story. We were just exposing people who were doing wrong." 

Muhame and other recent graduates of Makerere University in Kampala launched Rolling Stone late last year. With a circulation of fewer than 3,000 copies it would have remained obscure were it not for the anti-gay campaign (Guardian, UK)

The outcome of "exposing people who were doing wrong": many of the listed people were evicted from their homes and fired from their jobs. One woman was actually stoned by her neighbors. 

Several days ago, Bishop Senyonjo wrote an open letter to Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowen Williams. Please read the entire text here. You will be inspired, elevated, ... and relieved that such men still exist today. 

As human beings, we must respect our differences and be united in our call for listening and sharing with each other. To understand God, we are all called to understand the mystery of each other, including our sexualities.

He is incredibly courageous in this letter because he dares to do something which our own Christian Right would never do: point out past the mistakes of Christianity. That he even admits them is remarkable. Think of it: would ANYONE involved in today's Christian Right lower themselves to say such things? Remember, Bishop Senyonjo is telling the great CR that their religion has made errors, causing harm to an enormous amount of people! How can he insult people like David Barton, Tony Perkins and, above all, Bryan Fischer, who has recently, in print and on the radio, told our country that it was God's will that Native Americans lose their land and lives! 

BLINDED BY RIGHTEOUSNESS

There are some who will say that Senyonjo is not worth listening to, and that he's foolish for venturing out in such a hostile climate. Some may even say that he'll deserve what he gets. Scorn and venom will pour forth from the very places that should have love and concern. Those people are blinded by their own righteousness to have any compassion or concern for the bishop. They have whipped up emotions to create a mob mentality   that may be uncontrollable and may simply walk away from the situation in Uganda. Or they may look on in silence: Rick Warren, Scott Lively, Lou Engle and all their followers will watch.

And wait.