FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2014

Museveni's stay at US hotel cancelled after gays protest against his stand

President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda during African Union Peace and Security Council summit at Kenyatta International Convention Centre on September 2, 2104. A US hotel has cancelled President Museveni's stay after protests by the gay community over the so called

President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda during the African Union Peace and Security Council summit at Kenyatta International Convention Centre on September 2, 2104. A US hotel has cancelled President Museveni's booking after protests by the gay community over the so called "kill the gays" bill. PHOTO | BILLY MUTAI |  NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

  • President Museveni is scheduled to be in Dallas on Saturday and Sunday to meet with Ugandans living in Texas and also promote Uganda as a tourist destination
By AFP
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DALLAS

A US hotel has cancelled Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni's stay after protests by the gay community over the so called "kill the gays" bill.

According to Dallas Voice, which claims to be the premier media source for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Texas, Four Seasons Hotel in the Irving area cancelled Uganda's first couple's stay after the Dallas area LGBT group called the hotel in protest.

President Museveni is scheduled to be in Dallas on Saturday and Sunday to meet with Ugandans living in Texas and also promote Uganda as a tourist destination.

Museveni is also expected to meet potential investors in Uganda's oil and gas industry.

Following the cancellation, Museveni's team reached out to the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Centre in the city of Grapevine to obtain alternative accommodation. The hotel is about 11 miles west of the original hotel.

Speaking to the Nation by phone on Thursday afternoon, Gaylord Texan's director of marketing and public relations, Martha Niebling, said that the hotel had received a request by Museveni's team for accommodation rooms and to hosting an event at their facilities but they were not able to provide them due to "short notice and lack of space."

When asked whether the decision was influenced by pressure from the LGBT group, she said it was based purely on business.