Could it be that the upcoming Ugandan presidential election is one of the main reasons behind the "kill the gays" legislation before the Ugandan Parliament? President Museveni must be very concerned about the return of renowned and honored statesman Olara Otunnu to possibly head up the opposition in the next election. Otunnu is single and with no children and the presidential allies have been spreading rumors about his private life far and wide. You can fill in the spaces.

Most importantly, Mr. Otunna (photograph) brings an astounding resume back to Uganda after a more or less self imposed exile from the country since 1986. Likely to be the nominee of the Uganda People's Congress, Otunna would be a bright light in a nation that increasingly is becoming a dark place including the anti-gay legislation. Rarely has a more distinguished person sought the presidency of Uganda. Oxford and Harvard educated, Otunna has been viewed as the conscience of his countrymen.

In addition, this charismatic leader has been an international force in protecting children in armed conflicts. Serving as a special representative of the United Nations for eight years, he has done more than any other individual to raise awareness of the abuse of children in war zones. In his report to the United Nations, he stated,

"...from Colombia to Sierra Leone, from Sri Lanka to Sudan and Uganda, from Burma to Angola. Compelled to become instruments of war, to kill and be killed, child soldiers are forced to give violent expression to the hatreds of adults. It is not just the child combatants who are affected, but the girls who become 'wives,' the youngsters who have to cook for the troops, be messengers or spies."

Clearly the return of this international human rights activist and hero has been perceived as a threat to President Musevenia and recently the opposition leader was the victim of a highly suspicious traffic accident.

According to NewVision in Uganda, the Otunna escaped unhurt after his automobilie was hit by a jeep of the Presidential Guard Brigade. The ruling party explained it as a simple accident while Otunna and his entourage have a different view. At a press conference at the UPC headquarters in Kampala following the crash,

...Otunnu described the circumstances under which the accident occurred as “highly unusual”.

Otunnu, who said he was travelling in the car with four other people, called their survival a miracle. He said although he was not injured, he was physically shaken.

“PGB vehicles were ahead of us moving at a very slow speed and at some time almost stationary,” he told journalists.

“We signaled to them that we wanted to overtake and they gave way. But after we had overtaken two vehicles, the third blocked the road and my driver quickly tried to avoid collision but the second vehicle we had overtaken increased speed and tried to hit us from behind.”

He said they hurtled into the bush and passed in between two mango trees, adding that he was surprised soldiers were calling out his name even before he got out of his car. “I was also surprised that they mentioned the name of one of my security colleagues and the photographer who was in my vehicle.”

Not only does the LGBT community have a stake in this next presidential election in Uganda but so do the children of the world, the people of Uganda and believers in the future of Africa.  Listen to this amazing man: