The image used was created by Chris Ogon for his social media platforms during the height of the protests.
In the wake of anti-corruption protests that have swept across East Africa, troubling allegations have emerged from Uganda and Kenya, implicating law enforcement officers in the sexual harassment of prisoners under their custody. These disturbing revelations come at a time when both countries are grappling with significant human rights challenges, including the enforcement of stringent laws that criminalize homosexuality. As an LGBTQ+ media house in Uganda, Kuchu Times Media Group stands with the victims of these abuses and calls for immediate investigations and accountability.
In May 2023, Uganda enacted a new anti-homosexuality law, one of the harshest in the world. This law, which criminalizes consensual same-sex relations, has led to the arrest of 69 individuals between September 2023 and May 2023 on mere hearsay accusations of homosexuality. This law, which perpetuates discrimination and violence against the LGBTQ+ community, has sparked international outrage and concern over its impact on human rights.
Despite the law’s severity and the wide net it casts over the LGBTQ+ community, a more insidious and largely overlooked issue has emerged: the sexual harassment and assault of prisoners under police custody. While the Ugandan government claims to be upholding morality and protecting the public, individuals who were arrested during the protests have come forward with testimonies of being sexually assaulted by the very officers meant to protect them. These allegations have been met with a deafening silence from authorities, with no investigations launched and no perpetrators held accountable.
The sexual harassment of prisoners is not unique to Uganda; similar allegations have surfaced in Kenya following anti-corruption protests. In both countries, the common thread is the abuse of power by law enforcement officers who exploit vulnerable individuals in their custody. The lack of accountability in these cases is not only a violation of the victims’ rights but also a stain on the justice systems of both nations.
In Uganda, the situation is particularly dire. The anti-homosexuality law has created an environment where LGBTQ+ individuals are already at heightened risk of violence and discrimination. The addition of sexual harassment by law enforcement officers adds another layer of trauma and injustice. The fact that these allegations have not prompted even a basic investigation is indicative of a broader culture of impunity and complacency within the Ugandan government.
This complacency has, in turn, fueled public confusion and anger about homosexuality. The government’s selective enforcement of the law—targeting LGBTQ+ individuals while ignoring the abuse they suffered at the hands of law enforcement—has only deepened the mistrust and fear surrounding this issue. When we say we are fighting for the repeal of the Anti Homosexuality Act, we are fighting for the decriminalization of consensual relations between persons of the same sex.
We are deeply concerned that the government’s failure to address these allegations of sexual assault in custody only emboldens those who would use their positions of power to harm others. It sends a message that LGBTQ+ individuals, and indeed anyone who falls afoul of the law, are fair game for abuse without fear of repercussion. This is not the mark of a just society, but of a state that is willing to sacrifice the rights of its citizens in the name of maintaining control.
The fight for justice and accountability in Uganda is not isolated; it is part of a broader struggle across East Africa. We stand with siblings in Kenya who are also demanding justice for victims of police abuse. The sexual harassment of prisoners is a violation of basic human rights and must be addressed with the urgency it deserves. We cannot allow our governments to hide behind laws that criminalize homosexuality while ignoring the real abuses happening within their institutions.
We call on the Ugandan and Kenyan governments to launch immediate investigations into these allegations and to hold those responsible accountable. The victims of these assaults deserve justice, and the public deserves transparency and accountability from their leaders.
