Homophobic Attacks on The Rise in Uganda

Uganda is a country where the human rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered (LGBT) community have been eroded by anti-gay legislation. 

The Uganda constitutional court nullified the Anti-homosexuality Act in August of 2014.

According to Sexual Minorities Uganda  (SMUG) in August 2019, Hon. Simon Lokodo, the Minister of State for Ethics and Integrity revealed in a television interview that his predecessor, Hon Nsaba Buturo, would seek the leave of parliament in the following week to reintroduce the law. This legislation would impose sentences ranging from seven years in prison to death for either being gay or supporting anyone who is. SMUG has issued a call to action by Uganda’s LGBTQI community which include the following requests;

  1. To all Ugandans to reject all forms of discrimination and urge the legislature to use public office and resources to address urgent and pertinent issues affecting the country such as the rampant killings, poverty, youth unemployment, abductions and killings of women among others.
  2. To the Diplomatic corps to raise concerns about discrimination with the government of Uganda and to ensure that their multilateral partnerships protect the rights of all Ugandans regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity.
  3. To international allies to engage all their capitals to diplomatically engage the government of Uganda to stop any efforts to legislate against sexual and gender minorities.
  4. To the Ugandan duty bearers to ensure security, protection and safety of all Ugandans regardless of gender identity, expression and sexual orientation
  5. To the Ugandan LGBTIQ+ community, we urge you to be vigilant and report any threats and security incidents to the police, security agencies, local councils and relevant community organizations.
  6. We call upon the media fraternity, both local and international, to refrain from publishing subjective and sensational stories about LGBTIQ+ issues. We emphasize the urgency of your support to Uganda LGBTIQ+ community in this struggle.

Reports by kuchutimes a media organisation that provides a voice for Africa’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) community suggest the recent revelation that the government is planning to re-introduce the anti-homosexuality bill have esculated attacks targeting LGBTI in both number and gravity.

LGBT activists in Uganda have reported a spate of attacks over the last three months, there have been four reported incidents of fatality. Most reciently uganda authorities arrested 16 LGBT activists on suspicion of gay sex after a mob shouting homophobic slogans surrounded their office and residence on the outskirts of Uganda’s capital Kampala. 

According to Amnisty USA if this bill was allowed to pass it could have a global effect for LGBT activists. Even Ugandans living abroad, could face extradition and imprisonment if charged with being homosexual or in aiding homosexuals in Uganda.