Uganda's president has rejected Western attempts to link international aid with progress on gay rights, saying building infrastructure was more important.

Yoweri Museveni said homosexuals need electricity, roads and trains too.

President Barack Obama has ordered US government agencies to put gay rights at the heart of foreign policy.

"Before anyone gives me a lecture about homosexuals and their rights, first talk about railways," Mr Museveni told delegates at a meeting in Kampala.

Concerns are growing that al-Qaeda may have expanded its East African operations into Uganda after a British man was arrested on terrorism charges on his way to Entebbe.

But the Speaker called for calm, saying the matter was being handled judiciously. Mr Ssekandi's remarks came shortly after the author of the gay Bill, Ndorwa West MP David Bahati, reported to the Ministry of Internal Affairs that his life was in danger.

Religious leaders yesterday condemned homosexuality as they led thousands of Christians in prayers to mark Christmas Day. Bishop of Kampala Archdiocese Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, who led celebrations at Rubaga Cathedral, told hundreds of Christians that homosexuality is immoral and forbidden.

"The Catholic bishops of Uganda applaud the government's effort to protect families and the church teachings remain clear. Homosexuality acts are immoral and evil and are against the divine laws of nature," he said.

President Museveni has reportedly assured American authorities that he will veto Ndorwa West MP David Bahati's proposed anti-gay law, a position that breaks with his recent stance and the statements of officials in his government.
The online newspaper DC Agenda reported on December 19 that the Mr Museveni had assured the US State Department of his willingness to block the Bill, which has rattled foreign governments and rights activists.

The government's position on homosexuality will not change despite growing international opposition to Ndorwa West MP David Bahati's anti-gay Bill, a minister has said. In a statement issued yesterday, Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Kutesa said the government does not support the promotion of homosexuality "just like we cannot promote prostitution."

A young woman with a weary look sits at the doorstep of her husband's house in Iwemba sub-county, Bugiri District. Her exhaustion typifies the misery faced by thousands of Sabiny girls in Bugiri where Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) does not give them an opportunity to go to school.

"Life is hard, as girls we are expected to undergo FGM at ages 12-14 as preparation for marriage. We are married off and not expected to divorce even when our husband misbehaves," says Milika Cherop, the only girl out of about 5,000 Sabiny to reach senior six.

Although the country is embracing Universal Primary Education and Universal Secondary Education, Cherop says the Sabiny, are stuck to their traditional values that has seen many young girls forcefully undergo FGM and forced into marriage at a tender age.

Sweden has joined the growing list of countries heaping pressure on Uganda to discard a proposed law that would severely punish homosexuality.

According to comments attributed to Gunilla Carlsson, Sweden's development assistance minister, the Swedish government says it would cut aid to Uganda over an anti-gay law they find "appalling".

For tickling a woman against her consent, Teddy Seezi Tayebwa, a resident of Bugangari Sub-county in Rukungiri District, will spend the next five years in jail.

Homosexuals should not be killed but instead imprisoned for life, religious leaders have suggested.
Making their input in the Anti-homosexuality Bill 2009 yesterday, the clergy said the clause on death as a penalty for homosexuality be scrapped