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Home Uganda Talks MyBlog Martin Ssempa attacks the Ugandan diaspora

Martin Ssempa attacks the Ugandan diaspora

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You could never accuse Pastor Ssempa of mincing his words. In a public debate on professionalising journalism on Tuesday (more of which later), Ssempa tore into Ugandans who have lived abroad for becoming “ideological sycophants”. He claimed they leave with one world-view and come back with another, having succumbed to “market forces of the soul” by taking scholarships at Western universities. Ssempa’s prime target was a change in moral attitude to issues like homosexuality, against which he has been leading a vocal campaign. He summed it up as follows: “Ugandans who go abroad are victims of Michael Jackson syndrome, they are born black but die white.”

So what does our readership in the diaspora think of this? Have you contracted the dreaded Michael Jackson syndrome?

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Comments (27)Add Comment
Ssempa: Diaspora
written by andrew agaba, July 09, 2009
I tend to agree with Pastor Ssempa. I have seen journalists propagate worldviews that markedly contrast with local school of thought.

I do not know if Tabaire of Daily Monitor has lived in the diaspora, but certainly every one knows that Andrew Mwenda is an LSE alumni and Stanford alumni whose views on homosexuality are very incosistent with majority ugandans.

That said, Pastor Ssempa generalized, or perhaps was wrongly quoted, because so many ugandans have lived abroad and have not become brainwashed. He himself has a second home in America.
...
written by steely, July 09, 2009
Sempa ... what a clown !
Not too fast steely
written by andrew agaba, July 09, 2009
You must be a clown yourself to take Ssempa for a clown. Or they would say you drunk too many a kool aid.
...
written by Isaac Eyalama, July 10, 2009
True. Ssempa is really a true African. Many Africans go to the west and turn out un African. Some forget that they were products of a heterosexual union and instead begin to adopt or approve of sodomy forgetting that allowing sodomites to marry is completely contrary to the customs, history and culture of all societies throughout Africa.
Ssempa is right
written by byasi, July 10, 2009
i Totally agree with Ssempa,,he has lived there and knows what is going on,,and spending time with such individuals,,ive also seen the change,,our society doesnt tolerate homosexuality
i totally agree with Ssempa
written by maloba isaac, July 10, 2009
The worst someone should be colonised is his mind. i wonder why some so called learned friends and the enlightened seem to even ignore common sense that positives repel while the negative and positive attract. Homesexuality has never been way of life but a confusion some people purpose to practise then they seek to convince everyone that they were born that way. The west colonised Africa but i wiil never allow my mind to be colonised by utter confusion, wickedness and abomination.
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written by steely, July 10, 2009
Sempa....clown..no? Alright then, how about a plain-ignorant-extremist and hate-monger !
steely, remove the cover off your face
written by Kankaka Edward Nelson, July 11, 2009
Steely, we notice you have a definate phobia for the truth and an enemy to what is right. No mater which defence you give yourself, bad will always remain bad whether you agree or not.
My suggestion is that you revise your ideology and ask God to remove the blindfold so you can see the truth.
...
written by bombokajb, July 11, 2009
i want to agree with Pr. Ssempa and one of the things i have observed is the question of wether we are cowards or not. Back home there are things in Africa that can't be even pronounced through the lips. So really "tukomewo e'ka"..
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written by bombokajb, July 11, 2009
steely bambi "golokoka oyake" naye tuswala its a shame and to all of us as creature in God's image
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written by Musoke, July 11, 2009
Although I agree with the spirit that Pastor Sempa presents his opinion, I am uncomfortable with the racial tinge. It would have been better for him to associate homosexuality to the cultural dimension other than the color of a person. I am one of those Ugandans that studied in the abroad who despises homosexuality in all its forms. Having said so, my wife is white but none of her relatives are gays; they despise homosexuality and consider it a sin. I do not know much about Pastor Sempa but he may be in the similar category of Ugandans.
And this from someone funded entirely by the West!
written by AfroGay, July 11, 2009
Ideological sycophants? Psst. Martin Ssempa's campaign is funded by Wait Training of Denver, Colorado (http://www.waittraining.org/) and he doesn't see the irony of calling others ideological sycophants?

Oh Please.
...
written by Emperror, July 12, 2009
I think the Pastor has a point but is barking up the wrong tree in his reference to "ideological sycophancy" that in his considered opinion results into a change moral attitudes towards homosexuality et al. Homosexuality, for one, has existed in Africa for a long time but shunned through the ages, and that Sempa is a leading campaigner against the practice follows in that tradition.
On the other hand, what the western world does teach those that have had the opportunity to LIVE there is to tolerate each and any person's choice(s), so long as it is does not infringe on another persons liberties and indeed the LAW. If in the eyes of Sempa this amounts to "the MJ syndrome", then he clearly has missed the point.
What African societies lack is the entrechment of their respective norms into a "universal" law. And having a law to ban homosexuality would mean to disentangle the country from the international community since no such conviction can ever be upheld in say the ICJ.
...
written by Emperror, July 12, 2009
And at the risk of jumping the gun (since I have not seen the Pastor's article on proffesionalising journalism), is he advocating for banning journalists that have learnt their trade in the west because of their compromised morality?
Sempa is known to myself as a steadfast christian and un-compromising individual, thus I have to assume that the message has been lost along the way.
...
written by a guest, July 13, 2009
I don't agree with that statement 'the message lost along the way'. Emperor has not message at all and no back up for his words. For sure Most africans have forbidden there roots for the pop western trend. "ideological sycophancy" surelly some one saying that they are Trans-gender or bi-sexual is an ideology and a confusion. we have Sylvia Tamale, at MUK, tamale is big victim of this syndrome. plus many more. thankfully, Pr. Ssempa also studied from the US both Masters and the PhD. and he experienced the same circumstances. by the time he says: "ideological sycophancy" He knows what he's talking about and we all see this in our community today. When he tells andrew to Marry, he's not brain washing him but encouraging to do the right thing. Andrews responses were actually pro-polygamy and unfaithfulness. what kinda of man is this. which woman would love her husband adulterate and not be committed like Andrew is. this is really characteristic of "ideological sycophancy"
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written by Conqueror, July 13, 2009
I don't agree with that statement 'the message lost along the way'. Emperor has not message at all and no back up for his words. For sure Most africans have forbidden there roots for the pop western trend. "ideological sycophancy" surelly some one saying that they are Trans-gender or bi-sexual is an ideology and a confusion. we have Sylvia Tamale, at MUK, tamale is big victim of this syndrome. plus many more. thankfully, Pr. Ssempa also studied from the US both Masters and the PhD. and he experienced the same circumstances. by the time he says: "ideological sycophancy" He knows what he's talking about and we all see this in our community today. When he tells andrew to Marry, he's not brain washing him but encouraging to do the right thing. Andrews responses were actually pro-polygamy and unfaithfulness. what kinda of man is this. which woman would love her husband adulterate and not be committed like Andrew is. this is really characteristic of "ideological sycophancy"
Ssempa is a Literal Homophobe
written by Apparent Sodomy Lover, July 14, 2009
The term "Homophobia" is often overused especially in the west for people who disagre with or are activily opposed to the practice of Homosexuality.

Growing up in West, with its apparently "bleaching" air, I have grown up with homosexuality. I am not gay myself, but accept it as a person's personal choice.

Why? Because its always been out in the open for me. I have met many homosexuals, and none of them have got be in a head lock, bent me over and "sodomised" me.

Ssempa obviously fears the unknown, and probably checks under his bed every night for homosexuals.

He can put the religious argument to the issue, but with Uganda being a relativly religiously tolerant country, with Muslims, Hindus and Christians living together, God should not be brought into an arguement of legality. (And is Ssempa is right, can't he be satisfied with the punishment of eternal damnation rather than the reltivly short punishment he supports on mortal earth?)
more harm that good
written by Kirabo, July 14, 2009
I am so proud of ps. ssempa and i know that the people who invited him to present this paper had confidence in what he would say.....its true many (not all) ugandans in the diaspora have been brain washed. look at andrew mwenda, young, full of energy but the man speaks nonsense alllllll the time.....for andrew i guess going to stanford univ. just messed the man up, he was a mess but now he is worse. i once read an interview where he was sharing how he had sex with a woman in a lift......a stranger-- they had just met.......TOTAL SHAME!

Journalists like andrew mwenda can be bad examples to young people who have dreams of becoming journalists.
i think Gawaya Tegule is 1000 times better that Mwenda------ the man has principles he stands by, talks and writes sense.

its is sad that today we dont have many journalists like gawaya.

actually not many support our culture, always writing articles that are far from what they are and what they have grown up knowing.......Homosexuality is one thing i have failed to understand why some journalists(like those of Kfm's 7pm show) support with their every breathe. about 2 weeks ago one said " i dont care if my son loved a man, its his life" WHAT!!!!!!
God shouldn't be brought into an argument of legal
written by Conqueror, July 15, 2009
Exactly!! that statement: "God shouldn't be brought into an argument of legality"
Homosexuals worship themselves thats why they & their loves like @'Apparent Sodomy Lover' always mascaraed with such statements. They are haters of Man and God. Homosexuals always play arround with the laws of a nation! that for them thats the way they wanna live and infest the nation with the vice. I wonder this sodomy lovers who claims not to be a homo is actually a homo. you can't love something which you even don't which to do. On the issue of "fearing the Unknown." Homosexuality is well known!! eeh! wake-up. its well known vice which coz'd an entire nation's destruction ages ago. its effects are tangible and visible. its not unknown in anyway,

Tolerance of Uganda's people is due to the fact that we've had religious wars before and even have multiple religious believes, we all share the ways of life among human beings. in these religions Thefty is given its actual name "Thefty" we're unified in acts and way of life. thats the very reason why All Ugandan religions have unified to kick out this vice from our lovely & beautiful land
Response to Conqueror (With correct spellings)
written by Apparently not just a "Sodomy , July 15, 2009
"They are haters of Man and God" - Well, let us not linger on the irony of that statement.

"I wonder this sodomy lovers who claims not to be a homo is actually a
homo. you can't love something which you even don't which to do." - I quite like bobsleigh, but you are not going to see me going down one of those ridiculous ice-runs.

"On the issue of
"fearing the Unknown." Homosexuality is well known!! eeh! wake-up." - Reading recent articles on homosexuality, you would think that any child walking down Kampala Road could be kidnapped by a homosexual and repeatedly raped. I may be in favour of homosexual rights, but that still does not make me a fan of paedophiles and rapists male or female, homosexual or heterosexual.

"its well known vice which coz'd an entire nation's destruction ages ago."- If you are referring to Sodom and Gomorrah, then you are firstly bringing in the religious argument, that we seemingly agreed should not have a part in this debate. Secondly, you are referring to the old testament as an historically accurate document, which is something I personally disagree with.

I think it is very ignorant to suggest homosexuality is the vice that plays around with the laws of this nation, look at Yoweri "three terms" Museveni for example.

It is also ignorant to suggest that all Ugandans share the same ways of life. Cultural practises vary in all areas, as does the quality of life.

Of course, coming from a well developed country where homosexuality is legal (where funnily enough god has not smote us, and we don't live in constant fear of anal rape.) What would I know?
Hypocrisy
written by gayuganda, July 15, 2009
Ssempa is married to a white woman. He speaks with a 'pseudo' American gangster accent, litering his speech with 'dudes' and other American coloquisms.

Realy hypocritical
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written by Emperror, July 15, 2009
And what is your point exactly?
Promotions and Publicity Officer
written by Robert Grace Kisenyi, August 04, 2009
If any one supports homosexuality, he or she is anti God. Doom awaits such a man. It's true that homosexuality is vice that is a characteristic of people with a disfunctional conscience irrespective of colour. Reason why whites are attached to homosexaulity is-countless whites have propagated the homosexual agenda; in those "so called developed countries" it is criminal offence 2 speak against the lawbreakers(homosexuals) and that is gross wickedness. So Dr. (Ps) Martin Ssempa is not speaking from an uninformed point of view in all his arguments against the transgressors. It may not be popular to stand against the Homos, but it's worth the fight. Homos need mental and spiritual rehabilitation because they are lost in the desert. Dr. Martin continue being that disturbing voice in our land like Prophet Jeremiah, perharps "who knows that you were born at a time as this" The power behind you (Almighty God) is stronger than all human mighty combined, so don't fret.
pastor
written by nelson sinko, December 17, 2009
kwa mimi naona mchungaji sempa ni mtu mwenye msimamo mzuri, kwa maana kama mtu anaweza kwenda ulaya kama mweusi kama mimi halafu akarudi kama mweupe, inamaana hajaridhika kabisa na mungu jinsi alivyo muumba, kwakweli watu weupe wanajivunia weupe wao na sisi pia tujivunie weusi wetu. hivi ni lini mzungu atachukua tabia na mira zetu kama watu weusi.
kwa kumalizia, naomba nitoe shukurani zangu za kipeke kwa mchunga sempa, na wote mnaoshiriki katika kutoa michango yenu kwenye tovuti hii.

wenu katika bwana


nelson sinko
mchungaji-Dsm
...
written by ClubPenguinCheats, April 21, 2010
Some forget that they were products of a heterosexual union and instead begin to adopt or approve of sodomy forgetting that allowing sodomites to marry is completely contrary to the customs, history and culture of all societies throughout Africa.
huntersupp1030
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