In late May 2023, the Ugandan presidency announced the enactment of the Anti-Homosexuality Law. Regarded as one of the most repressive laws globally, it prescribes the death penalty for cases deemed “aggravated homosexuality.”
Human rights organizations have since condemned numerous violations and highlighted an atmosphere of fear. Meeting locations must be disclosed at the last minute to ensure discretion. To meet Frank, an LGBT+ rights activist for over 15 years, one must remain vigilant—especially perilous since the law’s adoption a year ago. Under this law, anyone perceived as promoting homosexuality faces up to 20 years in prison.
For his safety, Frank carries a tracker, ready to share his location at any time. “I have informed five friends of my whereabouts. The past three years have been the worst for the LGBT+ community. We face the risk of being killed or beaten by anyone. The most dangerous aspect is that these threats come from our neighbors, landlords, and even family members. There are public places I no longer visit. I have been physically attacked several times and received death threats, which surged in 2022. Nothing has improved since. I nearly left the country,” he confides.
Many Live in Hiding
While Frank chose to stay and fight, many have fled. Several LGBT+ individuals report living in hiding for the past year, fearing identification.
Activists denounce the law as discriminatory. Ugandan authorities argue that it aims to prevent homosexuality, viewed as a Western import. The Anti-Homosexuality Law received broad support nationwide and was passed unanimously, with only one abstention in May 2023.
International Condemnation and Sanctions
The law’s passage drew immediate condemnation from the international community, leading to several sanctions. The United States announced in December that they would deny visas to Ugandan officials enforcing the law.
The Human Rights Awareness and Promotion Forum (HRAPF), a Ugandan human rights NGO, reported that while nearly 200 cases were documented in 2022, the past year saw more than a doubling of assaults on LGBT+ individuals, reaching 559 cases of violations. Evictions, violence, and arrests are common occurrences within the community.
Although most cases do not reach the courts due to a lack of evidence, LGBT+ activists decry a climate of surveillance fueled by widespread misinformation campaigns online and in political and religious discourse. Edward Mwebaza, HRAPF’s Deputy Director, explains this phenomenon.
Misinformation and Public Stigmatization
“Since 2021, there has been extensive media debate around homosexuality, with unfounded rumors about potential recruitment of children into homosexuality. The Parliament quickly seized upon this issue. The entire process leading to the passage of the Anti-Homosexuality Law has encouraged the public, people in the streets, villages, and homes, to stigmatize the LGBT+ community,” Mwebaza reports.
“For me, this is a direct result of the media campaign. Consequently, once the law was enacted, we observed a spike in violence. LGBT+ individuals were evicted from their homes. We received 30 cases per month nationwide. Complaints poured in from LGBT+ people harassed in the street by motorcycle taxi drivers, or even by their own families. We also recorded numerous assaults and arrests by the police,” laments Edward Mwebaza.