On January 20, 2025, during his second inauguration, President Donald J. Trump made a groundbreaking declaration: his administration would officially recognize only two genders—male and female. This marked a dramatic shift from the policies of his predecessors, Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama, who had embraced a broader spectrum of gender identities. Shortly after, on March 4, 2025, President Trump took further action, cancelling a $4.6 million U.S. grant meant to promote LGBTQ+ initiatives in Uganda, along with a $40 million grant to Johns Hopkins University aimed at influencing social attitudes in the country. These decisions underscored a larger geopolitical struggle over gender ideology and foreign aid. In WHY ARE YOU GEH? Dr. Martin Ssempa explores how Western governments and institutions have used financial aid and state power to push LGBTQ+ policies onto African societies—and how Africa has resisted. This book uncovers the intricate web of international influence, the weaponization of development assistance through organizations like USAID, and the cultural clash that has put Africa at the center of a global ideological battle. The title WHY ARE YOU GEH? is drawn from the now-iconic 2012 debate between Pastor Martin Ssempa and Pepe Onzima, hosted by journalist Simon Njala on NBS Television. This viral discussion has captivated audiences worldwide, but few know the deeper story behind it. For the first time, an African scholar presents a meticulously researched account of Africa’s position in the LGBTQ+ debate, backed by firsthand accounts, letters, speeches, legal proceedings, and policy documents. For years, Uganda and other African nations have been labelled "anti-LGBTQ" by international media, with activists even facing charges of crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court. But why has Africa remained historically resistant to the global LGBTQ+ movement? Through extensive research, Dr. Ssempa sheds light on this critical question, offering a must-read resource for scholars, policymakers, educators, and anyone interested in the future of gender and sexuality discourse in Africa and beyond.
