LGBTQ crack down intensifies in Uganda

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people in Uganda continue to face discrimination, hate, assault and to some extents torture as these relationships and Marriages are regarded illegal, immoral and Ungodly in the country. 

By Ugandan law, same sex or gay sex is punishable by a death sentence as Ugandan Members of Parliament are looking to pass a new anti homo sexuality bill imposing life imprisonment or still the death penalty for the would be culprits.

LGBTQ rights are widely disregarded in many African countries. Within East Africa, it is remembered that during a 2015 visit, President Obama and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta had a public disagreement regarding LGBTQ+ rights. Obama spoke against discrimination, while Kenyatta stated that gay rights were a "non-issue" for Kenya, a point on which their cultural and societal values differed, emphasizing that his government prioritized other issues like healthcare and education. 

Recently in Western Uganda, a school warden was beaten by an angry mob on allegations that he was grooming students into same sex relationships which was covered up by the school (Name withheld) as a robbery attack on their staff.

He was later arrested by the police and subsequently charged with gross indecency and is in prison awaiting trial.

This sort of mob attack was also received by a retail business woman formerly a kindergarten teacher known as Mariam Najjeero, who was attacked and beaten blue black by two masked men as she was heading to her home leaving her hospitalized with damages on her head and right leg.

According to our source(name withheld), Mariam had been subjected to hate speech within the area even when at first it was only alleged that she and the friends she used to hang out with were lesbians as there was always no male in sight. However on a birthday celebration at their apartment, Mariam was seen kissing and celebrating with her alleged girlfriend by one of her neighbors and that’s when things escalated to public threats and insults leading to the attack. On return from the hospital she received more verbal threats that this was just the beginning, those ungodly acts has no place in their area. She could no longer move freely in the public, often resorting to disguises.

A close friend confirmed that these horrors followed her from her home town where she was banished and labeled a disgrace by her family and the community, stripping her off all rights and freedom.

Her current where abouts remain unknown as she fled the premises on short notice, as it is alleged she fled the country. Nowhere is safe for any queer person living in Uganda.  It is also noted that LGBTQ relations are legal in only 22 of Africa’s 54 countries, showing severity of the human rights issues within the continent.