The looming threat of pending Anti-Homosexuality Legislation has thrown Uganda’s LGBTQ+ community into turmoil.
The bill, which passed in March, seeks to criminalise individuals identifying as LGBTQ+, subjecting offenders to up to two decades of imprisonment. Furthermore, the legislation introduces “aggravated homosexuality,” including rape, child sexual abuse, and incest, carrying the death penalty.
The bill’s impact is already being felt, with Uganda’s queer community living in fear of persecution. South Africa-based Ugandan photojournalist, DeLovie Kwagala, has initiated a GoFundMe fundraiser to support those affected by the bill. The fundraiser, which has garnered over £19,000, aims to assist LGBTQ+ individuals with relocation costs, emergency housing, legal and medical fees, and transportation for those fleeing Uganda.
Kwagala has been inundated with requests for aid from queer Ugandans since the bill’s passing. The intersection of race and sexual orientation poses an existential threat to black LGBTQ+ people, as they are vulnerable to both forms of persecution. Visibility without protection can be deadly.
The Anti-Homosexuality Bill is the latest salvo in a series of attacks on LGBTQ+ rights in Uganda, including the infamous 2014 Anti-Homosexuality Act, known as the “Kill the Gays” Bill. The original bill contained a death penalty clause, later amended to life imprisonment. Although the legislation was passed and enacted, it was ultimately struck down due to procedural errors.
Even before the bill becomes law, LGBTQ+ Ugandans have faced increasing societal violence. Unemployment, mental health crises, housing, and access to medical care are all pressing issues for the community. In response, Kwagala and other activists have launched a crowdfunding campaign to support the most vulnerable members of the LGBTQ+ community in Uganda.
However, the demand for assistance far outstrips the available resources, making it crucial for queer people worldwide to contribute and amplify the voices of Uganda’s LGBTQ+ community. This human rights crisis requires global support and solidarity.
