CNN have issued an article and accompanying video telling the story of Malcolm, a Transgender Ugandan. Kasha also makes an appearance: LGBT in Uganda: Seeking acceptance from family, homeland
Monday, 30 December 2013
Tuesday, 24 December 2013
Richard Branson Slams Uganda Over Bill
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| Image from Time Photos |
British billionaire and tourism tycoon Richard Branson has added his voice to those opposing the Bahati Bill, going one step further in calling for a boycott of tourism to Uganda.
It was against his conscience to support a country which carried out a "dreadful witch hunt against the gay community", he said on his website.
There is also video coverage on CNN's webs.
Saturday, 21 December 2013
Aftermath of the Bahati Bill - Stay and Fight
The video above documents the moment the Bahati Bill was passed in Uganda. The death penalty has been amended to life imprisonment, but makes it an offence not to report someone for being gay, and mimics the repealed British Section 28 which makes it illegal to 'promote' being gay, which in reality means banning support to LGBT people through sexual education or service provision.
It becomes law once President Museveni signs it.
You can e-mail the Office of the President to urge him not to: secretary@op.go.ug
Responses on the SMUG page included:
Chilling video. Are these Ugandan MPs just ignorant or immoral ? Kudos to those MPs who stood out against this attack against the constitutionally guaranteed rights and freedoms of Ugandan citizens. Uganda is a beautiful country and it is sad to think how already it must be suffering economic consequences.
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There is need to have varied dissenting voices. That way support will be garnered. Encourage other voices from within the LGBT IQQ Community and not one voice or person please. Let this be a universal cry of pain, freedom and dignity. Thanks
SMUG's own statement was issued:
Sexual Minorities Uganda: Outrage at the Passing of the Anti Homosexuality Bill 2009
For Immediate Release
[Kampala, Uganda December 20, 2013]- Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG) has learnt with deep regret that the ninth Parliament of Uganda has passed the Anti Homosexuality Bill 2009.
SMUG has learnt that the Bill as passed by Parliament maintains the prohibition of consensual same sex acts between adults and prescribes a penalty of life imprisonment for so-called repeat offenders. It also requires "persons in authority, including persons exercising religious or social authority to report offences under the Act within twenty four hours or else face imprisonment for three years or a fine.” Furthermore, the Bill maintains the offence of "Promotion of Homosexuality" against anyone who acts as an accomplice or in any way abets homosexuality and "related practices".
“I’m outraged and disappointed that the Uganda parliament has acted in a very ignorant and irrational way” said Frank Mugisha the Executive Director, SMUG. “We shall fight this legislation TO THE END.” he asserts.
While the Bill is yet to be signed into law by the President, SMUG condemns in the strongest terms the haphazard manner in which Members of Parliament passed it with little if any regard to procedure and to whether it complies with the 1995 Constitution as the Supreme law of Uganda. SMUG has received reliable information that the Bill was passed without the requisite quorum despite protests from some Members of Parliament. There is also no evidence that the Bill was subjected to the Human Rights Checklist which the Speaker of Parliament launched late this year.
“Today will go down in history as the worst day for LGBTI identifying persons and human rights in general. The passing of the bill has caused significant panic even before its assented” Mr. Mawadri, SMUG Legal/Human Rights Officer.
Should the President assent to the Bill, it would greatly undermine the fundamental Constitutional Rights of equality and non-discrimination of Ugandan citizens who identify as Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual (LGB). The Act would also have dire implications for the rights to privacy, assembly, association and speech in addition to other basics rights of members of the LGBTI community in Uganda. If assented to, the law would as well spell a major setback for the freedoms of association of human rights organisations engaged in the promotion of these rights. The law would also curtail Uganda's gains against HIV/AIDS as it may compromise doctor-patient confidentiality, which could push LGB affect persons further underground for fear of prosecution.
SMUG reiterates that the Anti Homosexuality Bill undermines rather than upholds the family as it seeks to create fear and suspicion within families and societies and entrenches state sponsored homophobia.
The Act also undermines Uganda's obligations under international and regional human rights instruments, which uphold the basic human rights principles of equality and non-discrimination.
SMUG calls upon; the President of the Republic of Uganda H.E Gen. Yoweri K. Museveni not to sign this bill into law so as to prevent its dire effects on human rights work and HIV/AIDS progress in Uganda.
We also call upon the entire international community to remind Uganda of its international treaty obligations and to join hands against the Anti Homosexuality Bill.
SMUG remains committed to pursue all possible lawful means to challenge the existence of such an intrusive law on Uganda's Statute books, and to defend the fundamental human rights of sexual and gender minorities in Uganda.
Press Contact
Frank Mugisha
Tel: +256 772 616 062
Email: frankmugisha@gmail.com
Pepe Julian Onziema
Tel: +256 772 370 674
Email: onziema@gmail.com
And an article appeared on Advocate.com: Ugandan LGBT Activists: 'We Have to Stay and Fight'
It is highly critical of Rebecca Kadaga, Uganda's Speaker of Parliament, who has worked tirelessly to usher through the bill, and who the Commonwealth have promoted to Chairperson of Women Parliamentarians for her efforts.
Friday, 20 December 2013
Uganda Passes New Anti-Gay Laws
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| Image from Planetransgender |
We're not the first to go to press on this. We wanted to give the dust time to settle before bringing you a roundup of what's going on.
Well the Ugandan lawmakers have done it. Overnight they passed some of the strictest laws in the world regarding the treatment of our brothers and sisters. Today will mark the beginning of an ongoing barrage of assaults on Ugandan web infrastructure from LGBT activists across the globe. Today, we are all Ugandan. Later today we will be releasing instructions on how YOU can participate. UGANDA GAY ON MOVE / Anonymous Uganda / Anonymous - Uganda
Anonymous have already said that they will act to take down the Ugandan government's websites.
Meanwhile, we would like to draw attention to the fact that the UK Government deported Prossie N, a Ugandan lesbian, back to her country last Friday with no consideration at all for her personal welfare.
Let Home Secretary Theresa May know what you think of that decision: mayt@parliament.uk
Arrests have already begun in Kampala according to rights campaigner Kasha Jacqueline via Twitter:
#AHBUganda.1 arrest has taken place this evening of a trans activitist Beyonce Amooti of TEU.Plz everyone be alert. @Far_Uganda
LGBTI rights activists, and school children, across Uganda now fear for their safety.
Here's the headlines:
GayStarNews: Uganda passes anti-gay bill: Anti-Homosexuality Bill is now passed by parliament. LGBTI people 'afraid for their lives'. Hunt feared. President could sign it into law as early as tomorrow. Death penalty dropped but life in prison remains for homosexuality
HuffPost: Mandela's LGBTQ Advocacy Has Fallen on Deaf Ears in Africa and African Diasporic Communities
LGBT Uganda Updates: "Kill Gays Bill" Passes, Sig. of President Expected Within 30 Days
The fight is only just beginning.
Wednesday, 18 December 2013
20 More Schoolgirls Persecuted
In April we highlighted Gayaza Junior School's suspension of a group of eight-year-old schoolgirls suspected of being gay. In July, the Gender Ministry poured fuel on the fire at Ntinda View School where another girl was suspended for being a lesbian. In November, the Ugandan Government started an investigation into four schools on grounds of 'homosexual behaviour', then promptly threatened any teacher who did not report a pupil if they suspected them of being gay.
The situation for young people in Uganda is getting worse, fast. Meanwhile international children's charities - NGOs with big bucks behind them - are nowhere to be seen, not even cowering in the bushes outside the schools.
Today:
A school teacher in the eastern Ugandan town of Iganga has expelled 20 girls for suspected lesbianism, according to local newspapers.
If you'd like to contact some of those NGOs and ask exactly what they plan to do to raise awareness of the situation, or how they will be providing support to these vulnerable young people, here's two to start with:
Save the Children: supporter.care@savethechildren.org.uk / Twitter
UNICEF: E-mail Form / Twitter
Tuesday, 17 December 2013
The Trouble With Chris Mubiru
Oh dear, what a fine mess to add to the confusion.
Back in December last year, the nauseous, fit-only-for-wiping-your-arse-with, tabloid Red Pepper did one of its regular exposes, this time on a leading Ugandan football coach, Chris Mubiru. So graphic and hate-filled was the expose, that members of the LGBTI community feared for their safety more than a week later:
Friends stand warned look out for your security people are ganging up to attack those who look like or they suspect to be Homosexuals so pals please your security first. After the Executive Director of Uganda Media Center Fred Opolot said they are looking for chris mubiru
Now, news has just broken:
Whereas we can all agree that Red Pepper is a noxious waste of rainforest, this all leads to a slightly bigger issue. As one blogger points out:
Both defilement – having sexual relations with a minor – and homosexuality are crimes according to Ugandan law.
The problem being that Uganda has very little (let's say no) grasp (at all) on the distinction between someone who abuses children (a paedophile) and a gay person (a gay person).
This is at the heart of a lot of the bubbling, ignorant hatred that's spewing over in support of the Bahati Bill. People honestly can't tell the difference, to the extent that it seems many people deliberately don't want to.
Trying to compensate for the chant 'all gays are peodophiles,' there is a danger that gay rights campaigners might jump on the opposite bandwagon of 'Mubiru is only being persecuted because he is gay!'
He is being persecuted, there's no doubt about that.
But at this point in time, we can't be entirely sure why.
To put it very simply, in terms even David Bahati might be able to understand:
- Being gay is fine.
- Molesting children is not.
And, if you're following so far, the crucial lesson:
- Being gay does not mean that you are any more likely to molest children than straight people.
I don't think we can put it any more simply than that, yet we're fairly certain some people still won't get it.
Anyway, whereas it's good to support Mubiru if he is being persecuted for being gay, it is also worth keeping an eye on the story, and any independently verified facts, to see whether that is the entirety of the situation.
Monday, 16 December 2013
Randall Case Postponed - Yet Again
The case of Bernard Randall, the British man on trial for being gay in Uganda, has been postponed for a third time. It was originally postponed on 18th November, then there was talk of deportation instead of trial, then it was postponed again until today. Now:
"It has been postponed to January 22 because neither the file nor the prosecutor are here," he told AFP, adding he was happy over the delay because the alleged laptop thieves were due to go on trial first.
"If they are found guilty then it means that what I said is true, they robbed me, so (there was) no trafficking on my part," he said.
Randall faces a two-year sentence if convicted but could also be deported from Uganda.
Still, it's all moving a heck of a lot quicker than the trial of Scott Lively, which isn't due to start until 2015, and that of Simon Lokodo, which is just never due to start.
Surprise: LGBTI People Get Poor Healthcare
An article issued by the Independent European Daily Express today stated:
At an unremarkable office on Bukoto Street in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, health workers and civil society activists attend a regular meeting to offer information and advice on living with HIV and AIDS. What is unusual is that these information sessions cater to a group of around 50 transgender women.
The "Come Out Post-Test Club", as the group calls itself, was established early this year as a safe space and advocacy group for trans women sex workers living with HIV. The club's executive secretary, Bad Black, says it is helping to fill a desperately needed gap in support services...
A survey by Makerere University's School of Public Health on HIV infection in men who have sex with men (MSM) in Kampala in 2008-2009 found infection rates among this group were almost twice as high as the national average. Whereas the national infection rate on average is 7.5, according to the Uganda AIDS Commission, the Makere University survey puts the rate at around 13 percent for MSM.
Beyonce Karungi Tushabe, the executive director of Transgender Equality Uganda, an NGO working for the rights of transgender people, says it is difficult for transgender people to live with HIV in an environment where they have to keep their identities hidden.
This was also mentioned in our post on Africa's Forgotten Community. The need for anonymity is why the Ugandan government's recent U-turn on LGBTI sexual health clinics is so worrying.
Friday, 13 December 2013
Prossie N Deported
Despite the raised voices of protest, the UK has deported Prossie N back to Uganda.
A lesbian asylum seeker who fled a lifetime of rape and persecution has been deported from the UK to Uganda.
GayAsylumUK warns Prossie N ‘faces certain persecution and the likelihood of imprisonment and torture’ now she is back in Kampala, the Ugandan capital.
Supporters had appealed to the British Home Office to stop her deportation and to Kenya Airways to refuse to fly her back, even protesting at the airport, but met with no success.
We will keep you updated on any further news about her well-being.
[UPDATE: Another article on this matter, slating the UK's handling of LGBTI human rights: New case shows Cameron’s promises on gay asylum in UK can’t be trusted]
[UPDATE: Another article on this matter, slating the UK's handling of LGBTI human rights: New case shows Cameron’s promises on gay asylum in UK can’t be trusted]
A lesbian asylum seeker who fled a lifetime of rape and persecution has been deported from the UK to Uganda.
GayAsylumUK warns Prossie N ‘faces certain persecution and the likelihood of imprisonment and torture’ now she is back in Kampala, the Ugandan capital.
Supporters had appealed to the British Home Office to stop her deportation and to Kenya Airways to refuse to fly her back, even protesting at the airport, but met with no success.
- See more at: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/seriously-ill-lesbian-asylum-seeker-deported-uk-uganda131213#sthash.qjQcy4Kv.dpuf
GayAsylumUK warns Prossie N ‘faces certain persecution and the likelihood of imprisonment and torture’ now she is back in Kampala, the Ugandan capital.
Supporters had appealed to the British Home Office to stop her deportation and to Kenya Airways to refuse to fly her back, even protesting at the airport, but met with no success.
- See more at: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/seriously-ill-lesbian-asylum-seeker-deported-uk-uganda131213#sthash.qjQcy4Kv.dpuf
Thursday, 12 December 2013
Forgotten Community
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| Image from Transgender Equality Uganda |
An important article: Africa: Transgenders - the Forgotten Community
From 7-11 December, thousands of the world's leading scientists, policy makers, activists, government leaders - as well as a number of heads of state and civil society representatives - are gathered in Cape Town to discuss how to achieve the vision of a world with zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths...
...according to Beyonce Karungi, a transgender woman from Uganda, HIV programmes do not target transgender and lesbian women because they are viewed not to be a threat to the HIV epidemic.
"We've been left out of programmes, we've been left out of preventive and awareness messages, we've been left out of care and treatment; it's like we don't exist and are seen as a pariah in society or non-existent," she said...
The transgender community lacks access to HIV preventive and skilled health care as well as facing social, economic and institutional stigma because many HIV prevention programmes for most at risk populations are directed towards men who have sex with other men. Existing prevention efforts do not meet the needs of most transgender people, so they do not seek health care or disclose their HIV status.
Due to the stigma and discrimination they face, a lot of transgender women are pushed into sex work to support themselves because potential employers do not want to engage them, regardless of their skills and expertise...
According to an international analysis published in 2008 in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, transgender female sex workers are at four times greater risk of contracting HIV than other female sex workers.
In countries struggling to distinguish between gay people and paedophiles, we fear it may be a long wait before the distinction between gay, lesbian and transgender is finally grasped.
Uganda Underground
An interesting post made on Anonymous LGBT Legion International the other day. We do not know the organisation that has started this, so please exercise caution when getting in contact or agreeing to be involved, but we thought it was worth re-posting. Please drop a comment if you know more:
New Project Announced: Uganda Underground
Harassment, discrimination, and grave threats of violence are a daily reality for members of the LGBTQ community around the world. And there are few places where this reality is as aggressive and destructive as in the eastern African nation of Uganda.
In addition to potential life-term prison sentences, gay Ugandans live in fear of persecution under the infamous “Kill the Gays” bill, which would punish citizens with death for being who they are and loving who they love.
The hysteria surrounding the bill has caused many LGBTI people to flee for their lives, resulting in total displacement within their own national border. In response to this crisis, Planting Peace has created Uganda Underground, a safe-housing project with sites positioned throughout the African nation. Modeled in part after the historic American abolitionist movement, the Underground Railroad, Uganda Underground and its homes will provide shelter and refuge for those attempting to protect themselves from such widespread prejudice and institutionalized violence. Our goal is to create safe places for those who have been robbed of their dignity and are seeking to start their lives again in Uganda.
But it won't be easy. The Ugandan government does not allow non-profits who are working on LGBTI issues to operate within its borders so our operation must remain underground, with the places of residence kept absolutely secret, in order to protect those in our care. To get involved with Uganda Underground please send a message to:
info@plantingpeace.org
[UPDATE: Another article on this group: Planting Peace Launches 'Uganda Underground' Safe-Housing Initiative For LGBT Community]
Australia Bans Gay Marriage
After yesterday's devastating news that India has re-criminalised homosexuality, Australia has now rescinded gay marriage, annulling 27 unions in the Capital Territory.
Australia's High Court has overturned legislation allowing gay marriage in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).
The ACT parliament passed a bill in October making the territory the first part of Australia to legalise same-sex weddings.
But the national government challenged the decision, saying it was inconsistent with federal laws.
Some 27 couples who married since the law came into effect last weekend will now have their unions declared invalid.
The court said the issue should be decided by parliament - which in September 2012 voted down gay marriage legislation.
This is a dark day for human rights, but what do you expect from a Prime Minister who describes gay marriage as the 'fashion of the moment'?
Wednesday, 11 December 2013
Out There Documentary
Stephen Fry's round the world look at how gay communities live is now available online. It's a two parter, and well worth watching. Part one includes a large section on Uganda, whereas part two looks at India, before today's ground-breaking news that the country is moving to re-criminalise homosexuality.
Round-up of Recent Stories
Quick mash up of relevant news, starting with an overview of Prossie N's situation, ahead of the UK's decision whether to deport her tomorrow: If This Woman is Deported Thursday, She Will Face Persecution and Worse
A 20-year-old Ugandan woman, Prossie N, who fled to the U.K. after enduring years of sexual abuse from her uncle and persecution for being a lesbian, could be deported this Thursday...
Prossie has some very clear reasons to fear for her life should she be deported to Uganda. After her parents’ death when she was a child, she went to live with an uncle. From the age of eight, she was raped by him, according to Gay Asylum UK. At the age of 13, Prossie was taken out of school. When she was 15 and her sexuality exposed, she ended up living for the most part on the streets.
Body Blow to India
Although we keep our focus firmly on events in Uganda, every now and then there is a story too momentous not to mention.
Amnesty International has just released the news: India: Dismaying top court ruling re-criminalizes homosexuality
A ruling by India’s Supreme Court making consensual same-sex conduct between adults a criminal offence marks a black day for freedom in India, Amnesty International India said today.
“This decision is a body blow to people’s rights to equality, privacy and dignity,” said G Ananthapadmanabhan, Chief Executive, Amnesty International India. “It is hard not to feel let down by this judgement, which has taken India back several years in its commitment to protect basic rights.”
The Supreme Court overturned a historic ruling by the Delhi High Court in 2009 which had decriminalized consensual same-sex activity between adults. The Supreme Court said that Section 377 - which criminalizes “carnal intercourse against the order of nature”- was constitutionally valid, and said that the Government could take legislative steps to repeal the law.
This is particularly awful as India was making real progress on human rights, prominently featuring in part two of Stephen Fry's recent documentary Out There, and showing strong solidarity towards Ugandan LGBTI campaign groups.
We hope this is a momentary lapse in India's progress, and we hope that those who came out under the protection of the law will remain safe in these turbulent times.
[Update: BBC article explaining: Why India's gay community is in shock]
[Update: BBC article explaining: Why India's gay community is in shock]
Tuesday, 10 December 2013
Ministries Divided Over Gay HIV Clinics
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| Ethics and Integrity Minister, Simon Lokodo |
A slightly disturbing article:
Ugandan Government ministries split over gay HIV clinics: Uganda’s Health Minister plans to roll out a series of HIV clinics targeting the needs of LGBTIs and sex workers in the East African nation, but the country’s Minster for Ethics and Integrity is outraged by the plan
18 months after attacking activists for opening a HIV clinic for LGBTIs in Kampala, Uganda’s Health Ministry has announced plans for similar clinics of their own – but the Ministry for Ethics and Integrity is strongly against them, showing a split in the government.
Whereas we applaud the action, we doubt the motive. After all, it's much easier to arrest gay people if they're all in the same place, right?
[Update: Another article not too convinced about this: Outrage, Scepticism At Uganda U-Turn On LGBTI Clinics]
[Update: Another article not too convinced about this: Outrage, Scepticism At Uganda U-Turn On LGBTI Clinics]
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