LGBTQIA+ Equality Uganda Project #58477

Uganda Emergency fund

by MBARARA RISE FOUNDATION

Project Report | Jun 22, 2023
Supporting Ugandan LGBTI communities

By Mbarara Rise | Organization

Dear our valued donors

We're sharing with you these updates in regards to the signing of the anti homosexuality act.

On Tuesday 30th May 2023, the Anti-Homosexuality Act, 2023 (AHA) was published in the Uganda Gazette. By virtue of this, the AHA became law in Uganda on that date. The Anti- Homosexuality Bill, 2023 which later became the AHA was passed by Parliament on Tuesday 21st March 2023 for the first time

Since then, there is a drastic increase in the number of human rights violations during this period, as well as a big difference in the nature of the cases compared to the same period in 2022.

Between 21st March 2023, when the Bill was enacted by Parliament, and 29th May 2023 which was the last day before the Act came into force, we have received and handled 447 cases involving LGBTIQ persons.

Of these, 169 cases (58.9%) involved violence and/or violations targeting the victims purely or partly on the basis of their presumed sexuality and gender identity, 48 cases included acts of violence and threats of violence against LGBTIQ persons, 128 were cases of evictions, and 102 were cases of arrests.

Conclusion
It is quite clear that the two-months period and 8 days between the first passing of the Bill by Parliament and when the Anti-Homosexuality Act came into force, there were increased cases of violence and violations among LGBTIQ persons. This is as compared to the same period in 2022 when no law had been passed or discussed. This clearly shows a connection between the increased cases of violence and violations and the increased anti-LGBTIQ rhetoric that came with the discussion of the law.

Kind regards

Permalink

May 31, 2023
Fighting For The Freedom To Be LGBTIQ+ In Uganda.

By Mbarara Rise |

Dear valued Donors

We're delighted to share with you our progress in responding to the anti homosexuality bill (AHB) that was passed by the Ugandan parliament on 21st March 2023. Uganda's parliament having passed the Anti homosexuality bill 2023 which criminalizes people identifying as lgbtiq persons also leading to life sentence and death penalty, a situation that has resulted into homelessness, mob attacks, arrests, denial of health care services, mental health issues, loss of empowerment opportunities and members are attempting to flee out of the country in search of safer places. Our Staff led by Real Raymond are working tirelessly to advocate against laws that criminalize homosexuality, lobby for equality, provide safe homes, health care and legal aid services provision, offer psychological support and be able to respond to all human rights violations to members at risk of attacks.

The passage of the AHB adds fuel to the fire, homophobia and transphobia are killing LGBTQ people. The oppression of LGBTQ people has profound negative consequences on physical and mental health, the ability to access quality healthcare, and the ability to be who you are erased. We’re reaching out to members that have no shelter and have so far provided safe housing to 30 LGBTIQ people, offering psychosocial support to 20 LGT people, provided medical support to 30 LGBTIQ people, have bailed out 37 members out of 120 LGBTIQ people from police custodies.

Ken, Not his real name shared his experience while in the police custody “I was arrested In April 2023 because of the passed anti homosexuality bill, the police officers picked me from my homes and opened up charges of committing unnatural offences and aggravated homosexuality which in the recent passed bill led to a death penalty and death sentence, while in the police custody where I would only eat once, I was tortured and denied any visitor, inmates where bribed by people I didn’t know about to beat me at night and I knew I would die while in prison”. Says Ken. He is currently relocated to a safe housing and receiving mental wellness.

Happy PRIDE Month.

Links:

Permalink

‹ 1 2 3

About Project Reports

Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.

If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.