Information reaching igihe.com indicates that Ministry of Health is yet to present to the government research results detailing the relationship between Homosexuality and HIV prevalence in Rwanda.
The survey that begun early this year 2011 is under supervision by the Health Ministry.
However, a reliable source told this reporter that the results had been shelved saying that the officials found them ‘disturbing’ and that couldnt be made public.
The Director General of Heath Communication Centre (HCC), Arthur Asiimwe denied allegations that the research results had been shelved.
“Mr. Bigabo, this report has not been shelved or hidden from my office like you mention. It’s still under study and the principle investigator is still analyzing the data before validaing it. Keep your ears on the ground.” Asiimwe wrote in a comment he posted on the Rwanda Journalists Online Forum on Facebook last week.
“Bigabo those are rumors. As I write this, am seated next to an investigator who is still working on the document. It cannot be presented to government before sectoral validation.” said Asiimwe who was contributing to a topic on the Forum that requested contributors to provide information on Homosexuality and HIV in Rwanda.
The Executive Secretary of Rwanda National AIDS Control Commission (CNLS) Dr. Anita Asiimwe added that the research is ongoing and will soon be presented to partners for validation.
However, Dr. Asiimwe couldn’t share any information from the findings citing that it was against the research policy.
“At this moment I can’t say anything since the report is being handled by the ministry of health,” she remarked.
When contacted the Health Minister Dr. Agnes Binagwaho, she said, “I’m in a meeting”. When insisted Binagwaho said; “ Wrong Rumors”.
In related development, the Prime Minister of Britain David Cameron has threatened to consider withholding aid from countries that do not recognise Homosexuality rights.
Cameron told Commonwealth leaders in Perth, Australia after they failed to adopt reforms on the Gay rights issue.
“Britain is now one of the premier aid givers in the world. We want to see countries that receive our aid adhering to proper human rights, and that includes how people treat gay and lesbian people,” Cameron said.
“British aid should have more strings attached, in terms of do you persecute people for their faith or their Christianity, or do you persecute people for their sexuality. We don’t think that’s acceptable.”
Asked on whether UK aid to Rwanda will be withheld under the lack of recognition of Gay rights, Rwanda’s Justice Minister Tharcisse Karugarama said, “I cant comment of UK business”.
Karugarama emphasised that the Rwandan constitution doesn’t discriminate against any sexual orientation.
Cameron insisted the issue of gay rights had been discussed at the summit and he had personally raised it with “a number of the African countries that I’ve been speaking with,” although he would not say which ones.
“We’ve been raising the issue consistently, we’ve been raising it here at this Commonwealth heads of government (summit),” he said.
However, Cameron said change would not happen overnight, saying: “They are in a different place from us on this issue. I think these countries are all on a journey and it’s up to us to try and help them along on that journey.”
Responding to Cameron’s statement, Karugarama said, “We (Rwanda) don’t have a special law on homosexuality. We (Rwanda) treat everyone equal; however, the problem is when sex is used immorally”.
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