For one reason, American Christians may have contributed to the recent introduction of a bill called the Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2009 in the Ugandan parliament. The bill would impose the death penalty on some offenses, maintain life imprisonment for other offenses, and even make it a crime to fail to inform the authorities if you know a homosexual. Homosexuality is already illegal in Uganda, but imprisonment is rarely enforced. If this become law, one may expect a change in policing policy.

While there are many cultural forces which oppose homosexuality in Uganda, a dominant one currently is the evangelical church. Most recently, in March of this year, three Americans were recruited by the Uganda-based Family Life Network to speak at workshops on ways to change people from gay to straight. Two of the Americans, Caleb Brundidge and Scott Lively, spoke in favor of keeping homosexuality illegal but giving those convicted an option of therapy to cure them of their gayness. Both Brundidge and Lively spoke to the Ugandan parliament regarding their view that homosexuality is learned and curable. Their ideas took hold. The proposed bill bases the need for stronger regulation on the concept that "same sex attraction is not an innate and immutable characteristic."

The other American who spoke in Kampala, Don Schmierer, is a board member with Exodus International, the leading Christian ministry which helps same-sex attracted people affirm traditional Christian doctrine regarding homosexual behavior. However, just days after the bill was introduced, Exodus International denounced the legislation as "horrible legislation" and "hateful public policy." Critics of Exodus complain that the organization should have denounced the original trip to Uganda. At least Exodus has spoken out against the Ugandan proposal; Brundidge's International Healing Foundation and Lively's Defend the Family International defended the Ugandan mission and have been mute regarding the proposed law.

A positive American influence in Uganda has been the war on AIDS. In 2003, George Bush initiated the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) which has sent 1.2 billion dollars to Uganda alone. In the private sector, Rick Warren's Saddleback church has invested heavily in Uganda and declared it a "Purpose Driven Nation." Prior to 2007, Ssempa had connection to the AIDS ministry of Saddleback Church. However, Saddleback cut ties with Ssempa over his views on homosexuality. Ssempa is also promoted by Colorado based Wait Training, a Christian abstinence group. Ssempa opposition to homosexuality is clear and often extreme. Mr. Ssempa is in the leadership of two religious coalitions which have rallied against homosexuality. As far as I can tell, he has not contested accusations that he published the names of suspected homosexuals, sending them into hiding. Recently, he accused a fellow pastor of abusing a young male. The police dropped the charges after the boy recanted his accusations. Via email, I asked Pastor Ssempa his view of the proposed legislation . He replied, "I am in total support of the bill and would be most grateful if it did pass."