{{The Belgian Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo has lashed out at Africa Leaders to respect the rights of gay people.}}
Mr. Elio Di Rupo said, “We can not tolerate that some are denied their rights and persecuted for their origins, their sexual orientation, their religion and their convictions.”
The Openly gay Prime minister made the remarks at a welcome dinner on Wednesday for some 80 EU and African leaders attending a summit.
However, most African countries, with the exception of South Africa, have laws that ban or repress homosexuality.
President Museveni who said he was ready for the battle against Pro gay activits, signed a Bill earlier this year that calls for “repeat homosexuals” to be jailed for life and requires people to report homosexuals.
A legislator in Kenya recently likened Homosexuals to terrorists.
Nigeria in January banned same-sex marriage and civil unions while homosexual acts already carry the death sentence under Sharia (Islamic law) which applies along with federal law in the north of the country.
Reaction to the legislations has been fierce in the West, with several European countries having cut off aid to Uganda in protest and the US comparing the measures to anti-semitic laws in Nazi Germany and apartheid in South Africa.
Gay rights has so far remained off the agenda at the two-day EU-Africa summit that ends later Wednesday.
The European Union hoped to include in a final draft a pledge to uphold “the rights of the most vulnerable groups, including persons belonging to minorities”.
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