Stop the Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2023 In Uganda

The Ugandan LGBTQI+ community sees itself confronted with life-threatening dangers in light of the “Anti-Homosexuality Bill'' that has been passed by the Ugandan parliament and calls for international support. Please support the essential work LGBTQI+ rights organisation "Let's Walk Uganda" in this emergency.

The passing of the “Anti-Homosexuality Bill” in the Ugandan parliament has escalated the homophobic atmosphere in Uganda. According to various human rights organisations, the document constitutes one of the most hostile laws in the world discriminating against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer and Intersex people (LGBTQI+).

While the past months have been shaped by a narrowing of space for LGBTQI+ civil society organisations, the gazetting of the bill currently triggers acts of mob violence. Public calls for a mass killing of the LGBTQI+ community have become daily instances. The signing of the bill by the Ugandan president would now legitimate state-sponsored homophobic violence and impossible life in dignity for the LGBTQI+ community.

Let's Walk Uganda is an LGBTQI+ Human Rights organisation founded in Uganda Kampala. The organization is known to have established the first-ever safe housing shelter for homeless LGBTQI+ persons in Uganda, among so many other activities and projects it does for the well-being of the LGBTQI+ community in Uganda. Today, Let's Walk Uganda is acutely supporting the LGBTQI+ community in these difficult circumstances by fostering political advocacy, offering legal support and shelters and supporting safe flight possibilities. Due to the increasing state repressions, Let's Walk Uganda and its partners however urgently require funding to keep up and extend our humanitarian work in this emergency.

We ask you to stand with us in fighting against the anti-homosexuality bill and the life-threatening repressions associated with it, and in ensuring safer spaces for the LGBTQI+ community in Uganda. We are eternally grateful for your support and for sharing this call! For any further information kindly reach us at: [email redacted]

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In the context of the situation of the LGBTQI+ community in Uganda and the proposed "Anti-Homosexuality Bill"

The LGBTQI+ community in Uganda has already been under attack for years. According to the international human rights organisation Human Rights Watch many queer people have been attacked by mobs, driven out of places of accommodation or denied access to health services in the past months. Hatred has been fostered by religious institutions, foremost conservative Anglican churches sponsored by the United States of America. At the same time, state institutions have increasingly contributed to a homophobic environment. A recent government report has for instance recommended the closure of LGBTQI+-friendly organisations. Repression towards the LGBTQI+ community currently culminates in the proposition and passing of the “Anti-Homosexuality Bill” in the Ugandan parliament.

The “Anti-Homosexuality Bill'' passed on 21.03.2023 by the Ugandan parliament criminalises same-sex relations, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex gender identities by imposing life imprisonment and death sentence. The bill condemns persons living with HIV to suffer death upon conviction of homosexuality and likewise makes it punishable by death to have same-sex relations with a person living with a disability or with a person of advanced age. The bill further criminalises being an ally to the LGBTQI+ community whether by providing medical care, housing, legal services, associating or making any queer-friendly expression in the media. Such acts would be punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Children who are involved in homosexual acts are also penalised by the bill with up to three years of imprisonment. Media portrayals of homosexuality would be persecuted. In a global comparison, the bill thereby constitutes one of the most discriminating legal documents towards LGBTQI+ people and would impossible life in dignity for countless people.

Images: Alisdare Hickson CC BYSA 20 Source; Let's Walk Uganda