Beyonce, a transgender woman hosted few peers at her house for a small social gathering. Little did she know that a day of fun would turn into one of the events that she would dread most in her life. Her neighbors at the time concocted rumors about how Beyonce was recruiting "boys" into homosexuality. One Sunday, while she was having conversation with some guys in her neighborhood, she was tipped off that there was a witch hunt for her and her "boy-girl" mates. "They wanted to cut off our balls and burn us to death," Beyonce said. Since her phone had blacked out, Beyonce hurried to a cafe where she was able to access the internet. Her intent was to report these threats to the concerned parties. She was fortunate to get help from Defenders Protection Initiative (DPI) that facilitated her relocation immediately. But this relief was short lived. Within two days, Beyonce was homeless. While she waited at a friend's gate where she went to seek shelter, a mob attacked her and ruthlessly beat her up. Thankfully, another friend that was in the vicinity around the same time rushed to her rescue. He scared away the goons and secured her luggage. In shock and fear, Beyonce was taken to another friend's house in Bunga for a sleep over since she had no other place to spend the night. She continued to survive through the support of friends until East and Horn offered some assistance that enabled her get a safe place to stay. (Sexual Minorities Uganda, April 2016). This incident wasn't her first attack nor the last death threat.

Evidential stories such as this continue to show the impacts of living in an unpredictable hostile environment characterized by stigma and discrimination against 'kuchus' knowingly or unknowingly. The present reality still comprises of attacks within a society that we choose to coexist. And often, when these violations that infringe on the rights of an LGBT person occur in homes, on the streets, at work or even in the sacred places of worship, the cases are not reported to the authorities because of the prejudice that already surrounds us. Such situations call for interventions that will minimize the chances of these injustices being rampant by ensuring the safety and wellness of all LGBT persons.

Recently on 27th September 2018, the Rainbow Family Support Alliance (RFSA) Uganda designed a security and safety training programme that imparted LGBT persons with tips on social inclusion, safety and spiritual nourishment. There were sessions on behavioral change and psychosocial support through counseling. It is relevant for gender and sexual minorities to undergo security training opportunities periodically that will ensure their safety in society. Sekitoleko Vincent, the Team Leader of RSFA said, "We hope to help grassroot key population members attain skills that can keep them safe within society than have them seek for relocation support most times which is not even sustainable." As part of the security training programmes, the participants can also be taken through basic self-defense routines that can enable them to defend themselves in case they are attacked abruptly instead of being thrashed helpless. And let’s always remember “Our safety begins with us.”