David Bahati
Encyclopedia
David Bahati is a Ugandan politician and MP
in the Ugandan parliament. He is the MP for the constituency of Ndorwa West and is a member of the National Resistance Movement
, the ruling party of Uganda. He is Chief of the Scout Board of Uganda
Bahati is becoming increasingly influential in Uganda.
Bahati received a Bachelor of Commerce
from Makerere University
, Master of Business Administration
degree from Cardiff University
, an executive certificate in strategic management from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania
, an executive certificate in campaign leadership from the Leadership Institute
, and a diploma in business English from Manchester Business School
. Carl Cooper, former Bishop of St. Davids, said, "It was wonderful to discover that the local MP, Mr David Bahati, also had a Masters degree from the University of Wales and had spent time studying in Cardiff. Wales’ influence often stretches further than we realise."
Before entering politics, Bahati was head of finance and administration at Uganda's Population Secretariat.
, Bahati is a core member of The Family
, a powerful Christian evangelical political organization. Mr. Sharlet described Mr. Bahati as a "rising star" in the Fellowship who has attended the National Prayer Breakfast
in the United States.
as a Private Member's Bill
on 13 October proposing that a new offence be created in Uganda named "aggravated homosexuality
" which would be punishable as a capital offence. The proposals included plans to introduce the death penalty for gay adults who had sex with those of the same gender under 18, with disabled people, or when the accused party is HIV
-positive, or for those previously convicted of homosexuality-related offences. Bahati has expressed a desire to "kill every last gay person."
Sharlet suggested that the bill came about as a result of Bahati's membership in The Family. He revealed that Bahati reportedly first floated the idea of executing gays during The Family's Uganda National Prayer Breakfast in 2008. Bob Hunter, a member of The Family, gave an interview to NPR
in December 2009 in which he acknowledged Bahati's connection but argued that no American associates support the bill. After news of the gay execution law broke, Bahati was disinvited from the 2010 U.S. National Prayer Breakfast.
Bahati was interviewed by Rachel Maddow
in December 2010. Bahati asserted that $15 million had been invested in Uganda to "recruit" children "into being gay". When pressed by Maddow for "recruitment" tactics, he stated that children are enticed with money to "lure them into the practice of homosexuality". Bahati asserted that videos are being circulated in Uganda that state that "a man sleeping with a man is okay," which were being used for "recruitment". Maddow challenged this assertion, stating that "recruitment of children by gays is a common myth in any and all countries that have debated laws like that proposed in Uganda.
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
in the Ugandan parliament. He is the MP for the constituency of Ndorwa West and is a member of the National Resistance Movement
National Resistance Movement
The National Resistance Movement , commonly referred to as the Movement, is a political organization in Uganda.Until a referendum in 2005, Uganda held elections on a non-party basis. The NRM dominates parliament, however, and is expected to continue to do so. The presidential elections of 12 March...
, the ruling party of Uganda. He is Chief of the Scout Board of Uganda
The Uganda Scouts Association
The Uganda Scouts Association is the national Scouting organization of Uganda. The Association became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1964. It serves 116,465 members .-History:...
Bahati is becoming increasingly influential in Uganda.
Bahati received a Bachelor of Commerce
Bachelor of Commerce
A Bachelor of Commerce is an undergraduate degree in commerce and related subjects. The degree is also known as the Bachelor of Commerce and Administration, or BCA...
from Makerere University
Makerere University
Makerere University , Uganda's largest and second-oldest higher institution of learning, , was first established as a technical school in 1922. In 1963 it became the University of East Africa, offering courses leading to general degrees from the University of London...
, Master of Business Administration
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
degree from Cardiff University
Cardiff University
Cardiff University is a leading research university located in the Cathays Park area of Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. It received its Royal charter in 1883 and is a member of the Russell Group of Universities. The university is consistently recognised as providing high quality research-based...
, an executive certificate in strategic management from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, an executive certificate in campaign leadership from the Leadership Institute
Leadership Institute
The Leadership Institute is a 501 non-profit organization located in Arlington, Virginia that teaches "political technology.".The Institute was founded in 1979 by conservative activist Morton C. Blackwell...
, and a diploma in business English from Manchester Business School
Manchester Business School
Manchester Business School is the largest department of the University of Manchester in Manchester, England. According to Bloomberg Business Week's ranking of the world's best business schools the MBS MBA is ranked third in the world...
. Carl Cooper, former Bishop of St. Davids, said, "It was wonderful to discover that the local MP, Mr David Bahati, also had a Masters degree from the University of Wales and had spent time studying in Cardiff. Wales’ influence often stretches further than we realise."
Before entering politics, Bahati was head of finance and administration at Uganda's Population Secretariat.
Connection to The Family
According to investigative journalist and author Jeff SharletJeff Sharlet
Jeff Sharlet is an American journalist, bestselling author, and academic best known for writing about religious subcultures in the United States. He is a contributing editor for Harper's and Rolling Stone...
, Bahati is a core member of The Family
The Family (Christian political organization)
The Fellowship, also known as the Family, is a U.S.-based religious and political organization founded in 1935 by Abraham Vereide. The stated purpose of the Fellowship is to provide a fellowship forum for decision makers to share in Bible studies, prayer meetings, worship experiences and to...
, a powerful Christian evangelical political organization. Mr. Sharlet described Mr. Bahati as a "rising star" in the Fellowship who has attended the National Prayer Breakfast
National Prayer Breakfast
The National Prayer Breakfast is a yearly event held in Washington, D.C., on the first Thursday of February each year. The founder of this event was Abraham Vereide...
in the United States.
Introduction of Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Bill
Bahati came to international attention in October 2009 after introducing the Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality BillUganda Anti-Homosexuality Bill
Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Bill is a legislative proposal that would broaden the criminalisation of same-sex relations by dividing homosexual behavior into two categories: "aggravated homosexuality", in which an offender would receive the death penalty, or "the offense of homosexuality" in which...
as a Private Member's Bill
Private Member's Bill
A member of parliament’s legislative motion, called a private member's bill or a member's bill in some parliaments, is a proposed law introduced by a member of a legislature. In most countries with a parliamentary system, most bills are proposed by the government, not by individual members of the...
on 13 October proposing that a new offence be created in Uganda named "aggravated homosexuality
LGBT rights in Uganda
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender persons in Uganda have virtually no orientation-related protections at all. Both male and female homosexual activity is illegal...
" which would be punishable as a capital offence. The proposals included plans to introduce the death penalty for gay adults who had sex with those of the same gender under 18, with disabled people, or when the accused party is HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
-positive, or for those previously convicted of homosexuality-related offences. Bahati has expressed a desire to "kill every last gay person."
Sharlet suggested that the bill came about as a result of Bahati's membership in The Family. He revealed that Bahati reportedly first floated the idea of executing gays during The Family's Uganda National Prayer Breakfast in 2008. Bob Hunter, a member of The Family, gave an interview to NPR
NPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
in December 2009 in which he acknowledged Bahati's connection but argued that no American associates support the bill. After news of the gay execution law broke, Bahati was disinvited from the 2010 U.S. National Prayer Breakfast.
Bahati was interviewed by Rachel Maddow
Rachel Maddow
Rachel Anne Maddow is an American television host and political commentator. Maddow hosts a nightly television show, The Rachel Maddow Show, on MSNBC. Her syndicated talk radio program, The Rachel Maddow Show, aired on Air America Radio...
in December 2010. Bahati asserted that $15 million had been invested in Uganda to "recruit" children "into being gay". When pressed by Maddow for "recruitment" tactics, he stated that children are enticed with money to "lure them into the practice of homosexuality". Bahati asserted that videos are being circulated in Uganda that state that "a man sleeping with a man is okay," which were being used for "recruitment". Maddow challenged this assertion, stating that "recruitment of children by gays is a common myth in any and all countries that have debated laws like that proposed in Uganda.