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Demand the right to marry
KAMPALA - A gay group has written to the government demanding constitutional recognition and legal protection of gay rights.
The gays, writing under the Gay and Lesbian Alliance of Uganda, Gala, said that they will form a political party to represent their interests if they get no positive reaction from government.
The letter, dated October 4, is addressed to the minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs and copied to the Speaker of Parliament, the Uganda Human Rights Commission and political parties and organisations.
"We believe criminalising us because of our nature is unfair1/4[we] will not support any political organisation which doesn't endorse our rights," says the letter, signed by the chairman of Gala Uganda, Mr S.W.I. Lule.
"If you fail to honour our request, we will be forced to form our political party to represent our interests."
The group is unhappy that gay rights were not included in the Cabinet's recent proposals to the Constitutional Review Commission.
The gay group wants homosexuality and same-sex marriages decriminalised in Uganda.
The Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister, Ms Janat Mukwaya, told The Monitor yesterday that she has not yet received the letter.
"I have not but I would advise them to read the Constitution. I don't think gays have a right in our Constitution," she said.
The Church of Uganda recently cut links with the New Hampshire diocese of the Episcopian Church of the United States after it appointed an openly gay priest as bishop. | 
