In commemoration of the nineth anniversary of the passing of David Kato, Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG) held a memorial service on Sunday 26th January 2020 to celebrate the life of the renowned LGBT+ activist and other LGBT+ identifying individuals that have lost their lives to homophobic attacks.
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#Herstory was made over this past weekend when Uganda’s collective of LBQ feminists, LBQ Loose Network with support from CREA convened in Kampala for a code of conduct validation workshop. The meeting was meant to have members draft and develop a charter of principles that will guide interactions, individual ethics and ways of work for LBQ women as a social movement.
“Great news- Uganda will host #ICASA2021 so Uganda should repeal law that makes gay men criminals so that LGBT people in #Africa can attend conference. #LGBT are most vulnerable and such laws drive them from life-saving #HIV services,” Winnie Byanyima, the newly appointed UNAIDS Chief shared through her official twitter account.
The fundraiser is to help the victims that were arrested and don’t have bail money, as well as supplies such as water, sanitary pads, soap, food and other necessities use while still in the prison, and for those that are staying at the Rella Uganda shelter.
To commemorate the annual World AIDS Day, Icebreakers Uganda (IBU) and Men of Night Uganda (MONU) with support from The Fund for Global Human Rights and the Stephen Lewis Foundation held a community event under the theme Ending The HIV/AIDS Epidemic: Community by Community.
I am human, so I do miss people, but I made a choice when I transitioned that I will not allow anyone to impose themselves on my life any more than I will impose myself in theirs–in urban lingo “Do you and I will do me”, the world is big enough for my heathen self and for you hypocritical holier-than-though puritan self.
Despite the presence of laws and policies on rape and defilement- laws that specifically protect the victims, statistics show that violence against women and girls is on rise in Uganda. According to the Police annual report of 2018 (compared to that of 2017), an increase in the sexual gender based violence cases was registered.
Several human rights organisations, both local and international, have since spoken up about up about this rather saddening and increasing prosecution of sexual and gender minorities in Uganda. Human Rights Watch released a statement (as shared below) on 17th November, condemning not only the persecution and witch hunt of LGBT Ugandans but also the continued use of forced anal examinations.
Following the unwarranted arrest of 125 people from Ram bar on Sunday 10th November 2019, a total of 67 have gone on to be remanded to Luzira prison. Human Rights Awareness and Promotion forum (HRAPF) secured bond for some of those that had been arrested while 67 who appeared in court were charged with being public nuisances and sent on remand where they await to reappear in court.
With several bars in and around Kampala selling Shisha, one can only wonder why Ram a bar that was most certainly going to be filled to capacity with LGBT+ identifying individuals was singled out for this operation. In the past, when such operations have been carried out, a number of bars within the city are raided but last night’s operation clearly targeted one venue.