J. Peter Pham, director of the Africa Center, is quoted by U.S. News & World Report on how the United States might pressure Uganda’s president into vetoing a bill that would criminalize same-sex relationships and LGBTQ advocacy:
President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda has joined ranks with other African presidents including Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan in endorsing anti-gay legislation, despite pressure from President Barrack Obama not to do so. The Human Rights Watch, an international aid group, has asked the U.S. government to temporarily recall its ambassador to Uganda. […]
But J. Peter Pham, director of the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center, says that strategy might not have the desired effect.
“Withdrawing the ambassador sends a signal. In that respect, I agree with HRW. On the other hand, it removes a high-profile voice that could be speaking out in the country as well,” he says. […]
“This piece of legislation arguably may be the most hateful and problematic thing [Museveni’s] done to date but there’s a long history of acting against U.S. interests or U.S. policy and not really having to pay any consequences for it,” says Pham.