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This thesis has been submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for a postgraduate degree (e.g. PhD, MPhil, DClinPsychol) at the University of Edinburgh. Please note the following terms and conditions of use: This work is protected by copyright and other intellectual property rights, which are retained by the thesis author, unless otherwise stated. A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This thesis cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the author. The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the author. When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given. PUBLIC REBIRTH PENTECOSTAL-CHARISMATIC CHRISTIANITY, SEXUALITY & NATION BUILDING IN THE UGANDAN PUBLIC SPHERE Caroline Valois Doctor of Philosophy The University of Edinburgh 2014 ii DECLARATION I confirm that this dissertation ‘PUBLIC REBIRTH: Pentecostal-Charismatic Christianity, Sexuality & Nation Building in the Ugandan Public Sphere’, is my own work, and that the use of all material from outside sources has been properly and fully acknowledged. Caroline De Bruhl Valois 7th June 2014 iii ABSTRACT Throughout the past five years a flood of international attention has been paid to Uganda. This focus has to do with the proposal, passage, and annulment of the Anti- Homosexuality Bill (AHB). In its original form, the AHB prescribed the death penalty for some acts of homosexuality, mandated prison sentences for the ‘promotion of homosexuality’, and required Ugandans to report ‘offenders’ to the authorities. Overwhelmingly the predominant frames found throughout the international press, attribute the Legislation to two main factors, the influence of the North American evangelical movement, and/or the ruling party—the National Resistance Movement—using local homophobia to obscure broader trends of restricting human rights and democratic freedoms. While both explanations have degrees of validity they underplay the tangible religiousity of the context, demonstrated in the discursive influence of the Ugandan Pentecostal-Charismatic (PC) movement, at the heart of the Legislation. Yet, PC influence is demonstrated far beyond the Legislation alone, and it is changing the nature of Ugandan politics, governance, and the formation of citizenship. This thesis examines the influence of PC discourse on processes of governance and citizenship by using the PC engagement with sexuality in the public sphere to understand its political impact. I argue that PC discourse in the public sphere—which functions by reinscribing the past, present, and future—reveals tensions in the Ugandan public sphere, the negotiation of citizenship, and perpetuates the indistinct boundaries between religion, politics, and governance. Through an extended ethnographic approach conducted at four local PC churches over the course of fourteens months in Kampala—including Miracle Centre, One Love, Watoto, and Covenant Nations—analysis of church-produced discourse collected through participant observations and interviews elucidates the impact of moral narratives on political governance and citizenship. In church-produced discourse homosexuality is positioned as inherently un-African, a practice learned from the West that undermines local tradition and morality, and is iv a threat to the up-and-coming generation charged with transforming the nation. Consequently, for the PC community the Legislation functions as a display of autonomy from Western influence, and a stride towards nation building by establishing a moral citizenry reflective of PC tenets of sexual purity, by a religious community that has taken on the role of development actor. The implications of the study cannot be understated. PC discourse has profound implications for Ugandans living outside of the bounds of PC identity. The AHB reflects the newfound political influence and impact of PC discourse in the public sphere. Consequently as members of the local lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) community, a community seen as incompatible with this newly aligned moral national identity, is rendered not to belong to Uganda. In turn the boundaries between the political and the religious are made more and more indistinguishable, and the Ugandan LGBTI community without a distinguishable country. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to thank the University of Edinburgh and the School of Social and Political Science. My sincerest thanks to my tremendous supervisors, Barbara Bompani and Rebecca Marsland. I could not have asked for a greater team. You both have been amazing, dedicated, and retained enthusiasm the entire way through. My thanks is ‘mutual’. Thank you to the students and staff at the Centre of African Studies, and all of my fantastic officemates and colleagues through the many years. Thanks to Maggie Dwyer, Namhla Matshanda, Elisabetta Spano, Aya Tsuruta, Gill Davies and Shaun Ruysenaar. It was an honour sharing an office with you all. This project would not have been possible without the participation of Watoto Church, Miracle Centre, One Love and Covenant Nations, and all of the organisations and people who gave their time and support. Thank you to my longsuffering family and friends who have endured endless hours discussing my thesis over the phone. To Marshall, thank you, thank you, thank you. Your dedication has been incalculable. It was a true privilege. Last I wish to thank Davide, you have been an unfaltering source of calm and immeasurable encouragement. vi LIST OF ACRONYMS ABC Abstinence, Monogamy (Being Faithful), and Condoms ACP AIDS Control Programme AHB Anti-Homosexuality Bill APB Anti-Pornography Bill BAFF Born Again Faith Federation CDA Critical Discourse Analysis CMS Church Missionary Society CNC Covenant Nations Church COU Church of Uganda DNA Discipline Nations Alliance DP Democratic Party FBO Faith-Based Organisation FLN Family Life Network IBEAC Imperial British East Africa Company IROCoU Inter-Religious Council of Uganda ITN International Transformation Network KPC Kampala Pentecostal Church LGBT Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender LGBTI Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex LGBTQ Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer MCC Miracle Centre Cathedral NCP Namirembe Christian Fellowship NFBAC National Federation of Born Again Churches NGO Non-Governmental Organisation NRM National Resistance Movement PAG Pentecostal Assemblies of God PC Pentecostal-Charismatic PCC Pentecostal-Charismatic Church PEPFAR President’s Emergency Action Plan for AIDS Relief PIASCY Presidential Initiative on AIDS Strategy for Communication to Youth POMB Public Order Management Bill R.I.O.T Righteous Invasion of Truth SMUG Sexual Minorities Uganda SSA Samaritan Strategy Africa TASO The AIDS Support Organisation TNA Transforming Nations Alliance UAC Uganda AIDS Commission UPC Uganda Peoples Congress UYF Uganda Youth Forum YDM Youth Distinction Ministry vii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...................................................................................... vi LIST OF ACRONYMS ............................................................................................ vii CHAPTER I: A REBIRTH OF THE PUBLIC ....................................................... 1 A Brief Overview of Pentecostal-Charismatic Christianity ............................................. 5 The Pentecostal-Charismatic Public Sphere .................................................................... 9 Research Question & Argument .................................................................................... 13 Case Studies & Methods ................................................................................................ 13 Conceptual Points of Departure ..................................................................................... 26 Analytical Overview ...................................................................................................... 36 Thesis Structure .............................................................................................................. 38 CHAPTER II: SITUATING THE UGANDAN PENTECOSTAL- CHARISMATIC MOVEMENT ............................................................................. 42 First Contact for a Christian Nation ............................................................................... 44 The Colonial & Post-Colonial Period ............................................................................ 57 Balokole: The East African Revival ............................................................................... 60 Pentecostal-Charismatic Christianity ............................................................................. 66 HIV/AIDS and the Politicalisation of Pentecostal-Charismatic Churches .................... 68 CHAPTER III: SEXUALITY IN THE PUBLIC SPHERE ................................. 80 Bringing Sexuality into the Public Sphere ..................................................................... 81 Understanding ‘African’ Sexuality ................................................................................ 84 The Anti-Homosexuality Legislation ............................................................................. 95 CHAPTER IV: MIRACLE CENTRE CATHEDRAL: ..................................... 104 Miracle Centre: An Overview .....................................................................................

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