Category: Uganda

Africa Anti-Homosexuality Act anti-LGBTQ+ Articles Homophobia LGBTQIA+ community Life Long Reads News Originals Transphobia Uganda UK

Why anti-LGBTQ legislation in Africa is a western problem

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A year on from the passing of Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act, journalist Desmond Vincent reflects on the UK’s role in promoting homophobia and transphobia internationally. WORDS BY DESMOND VINCENT HEADER DESIGN YOSEF PHELAN Queer media representation is down while transphobic legislation and scaremongering are on the up – across the west, recent years have seen a regression in terms of queer and trans equality. In times like these, it’s important to look to history in an effort to understand the political and cultural history of the LGBTQIA+ community.  But while the…

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Anti-Homosexuality Act Articles Christianity Colonialism gender LGBTQIA+ LGBTQIA+ community Life Long Reads News Originals queerphobia same-sex Uganda UK

It’s not queerness that is alien to Ugandan culture – it’s queerphobia

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A year on from the passing of Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act, Kuchu Times’ Ruth Muganzi reflects on the origins of the queerphobia which led to its creation. WORDS BY RUTH MUGANZI HEADER DESIGN BY YOSEF PHELAN After lobbying from the US evangelical Christian movement, the Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA) was enacted in Uganda in May 2023. Although same-sex activity was already illegal, from then on LGBTQIA+ life in Uganda has been subject to even harsher restrictions. These include punitive prison sentences – twenty years for the ‘promotion’ of homosexuality and life imprisonment…

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Anti-LGBTQ+ bill Anti-LGBTQ+ Laws Articles Ghana Human Rights Kaleidoscope Trust LGBTQ+ News Life News Originals Peter Tatchell protest Uganda

“A step backward for equality”: Activists react to Ghana’s anti-LGBTQ+ bill

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Ghana recently passed one of the world’s harshest anti-LGBTQIA+ bills, sparking global outrage from activists and community figures alike. WORDS BY CONOR CLARK HEADER BY YOSEF PHELAN Lawmakers in Ghana last week passed a bill that, if signed into law by President Nana Akufo-Addo, would see simply identifying as LGBTQIA+ punishable by up to three years in prison. “It’s actually really a step backward for equality,” said Jesse Sperling, the Interim Executive Director of Kaleidoscope Trust, a charity fighting for the human rights of LGBTQIA+ people across the Commonwealth, which…

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Anti-LGBTQ+ law Articles LGBTQ+ News Life News Openly Uganda

How sanctions on Uganda aim to undo anti-LGBTQ+ law

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Uganda’s Constitutional Court is expected to rule in the coming weeks on a legal challenge to last year’s Anti-Homosexuality Act, which allows the death penalty for some same-sex acts and 20 years in jail for “promoting” homosexuality. LGBTQIA+ rights activists, who launched the appeal, are also urging the international community to intensify pressure on the Ugandan government to repeal the law by imposing more sanctions, but emphasised that such penalties should be targeted. “We are not calling for blanket sanctions on Uganda. They should not affect vulnerable Ugandans,” said Frank…

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Anti-LGBTQ+ bill Articles Life News Openly Uganda

What you need to know about appeal against Uganda anti-LGBTQ+ law

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Rights groups expect Uganda’s Constitutional Court to issue a verdict imminently on an appeal against the strict anti-LGBTQIA+ law the country passed last year that imposed the death penalty for some same-sex acts. Here’s what you need to know. What is the Anti-Homosexuality Act, and what has been its impact? The Anti-Homosexuality Act was signed into law by President Yoweri Museveni in May 2023, and its draconian measures have prompted U.S. and World Bank sanctions. While Uganda already criminalised gay sex, the new law is harsher, with the death penalty…

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Africa Articles Explainer LGBTQ+ News Life Namibia News Openly Uganda

LGBTQ+ rights in Africa 2023: Progress and setbacks

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Across Africa, while court verdicts ensured rights for LGBTQIA+ people in Kenya and Namibia, countries such as Uganda and Ghana doubled down on anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation. The year began with 32 of 54 African countries criminalising LGBTQIA+ people, according to rights group Human Dignity Trust. Going into 2024, that number is down to 31. Here are the significant updates from 2023. Mauritius: The island country’s highest court decriminalised same-sex relations, striking down a colonial-era law dating back to 1898. Kenya: The east African country’s Supreme Court in February affirmed the right…

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Anti-LGBTQ+ law Articles Children of the Sun Foundation LGBTQ+ News Life News Uganda

Uganda: Activists finalise appeal to overturn extreme Anti-Homosexuality Act

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Civil society groups in Uganda have completed their pretrial appeal against the Anti-Homosexuality Act, prior to a full hearing later in the month. Petitioners have argued that the law violates fundamental rights guaranteed under the Ugandan constitution and international human rights law, including those stipulated in the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, as reported by Human Rights Watch. On 2 May, Uganda’s Parliament passed anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation titled the Anti-Homosexuality Bill – legislation that is considered one of the most brutal in the world. An earlier version of the…

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AIDS Articles health HIV HIV/AIDS Interview Interviews LGBTQ+ News Life Long Read Long Reads News Originals Uganda UK UN UNAIDS United Nations Winnie Byanyima World AIDS Day

UN’s Winnie Byanyima: ‘When countries criminalise LGBTQ+ people, they slow their progress against HIV’

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Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS, speaks to GAY TIMES about bringing the HIV/AIDS epidemic to an end by 2030. WORDS BY CONOR CLARK Governments all over the world have committed to bringing the HIV/AIDS epidemic to an end by 2030, something that would have seemed impossible mere decades ago. Now, the goal is within reach, but Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), tells GAY TIMES that “work still needs to be done” to make it a reality in the next seven years. “We…

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Anti-LGBTQ discrimination Articles LGBTQ+ News Life News Police Uganda

Uganda’s brutal anti-LGBTQ+ law is causing a surge in human rights abuses, activists say

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Uganda’s recently passed Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA) has caused a surge in anti-LGBTQIA+ abuse, activists on the ground have said. Content warning: This story includes topics that could make some readers feel uncomfortable and/or upset. Enacted in May, the AHA upholds the criminalisation of same-sex sexual activity and orders that certain acts be punished with the death penalty. At least six people have been charged under the legislation, including two accused of “aggravated homosexuality” – something that is defined in the bill as sex with a minor, having sex while HIV-positive…

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Articles Human Rights LGBT Life News Uganda

Ugandan man faces death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality”

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A 20-year-old man in Uganda may be sentenced to the death penalty on charges of “aggravated homosexuality”. The man appeared in court on 18 August in the city of Soroti, according to Jacquelyn Okui, spokesperson for the state prosecutors, who spoke with AFP news agency. A charge sheet alleges that he engaged in intercourse with a 41-year-old man but no further details pertaining to the case were provided therein. According to Reuters, given that the defendant is charged with a capital offence, he will remain in custody until his case…

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