As we celebrate Queer Legacy Month, we honour the courage of those who paved the way

In the pantheon of LGBTQ+ rights pioneers, few figures embody the spirit of fearless advocacy and transformative leadership quite like Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera. As Uganda’s most visible lesbian activist, the founder of Freedom and Roam Uganda (FARUG), and the visionary behind KuchuTimes Media Group, Nabagesera has spent over two decades building the infrastructure of resistance that continues to sustain Uganda’s LGBTQ+ community even in its darkest hours.

Nabagesera’s journey from a young woman expelled from multiple schools for writing love letters to girls, to becoming the most internationally recognised face of African LGBTQ+ activism, represents not just personal triumph but the birth of an entire movement.

Early Seeds of Resistance

Nabagesera’s activism began long before she had the language to define it. Her educational journey reads like a road map of institutional rejection, from Gayaza Junior School to Maryhill High School, Mariam High School, and Namasagali College she faced continuous suspensions and expulsions as school authorities discovered her romantic relationships with other girls. Each expulsion could have been a moment of defeat; instead, they became formative experiences that would later inform her understanding of systemic discrimination and the urgent need for change.

Despite these challenges, Nabagesera persevered academically, eventually earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Nkumba University, followed by studies in information technology and marketing from the New Vision Group in Kampala. But it was her pursuit of human rights education through the Human Rights Education Associates in Massachusetts in 2005, and her journalism training at the Johannesburg Media School in 2006, that would provide her with the tools to transform personal struggle into collective action.

By 1999, at just 19 years old, Nabagesera had already begun campaigning to end homophobia in Uganda, making her one of the earliest voices in what would become a decades-long struggle for equality and human dignity.

Founding FARUG: Creating Space for LBQ Women

In 2003, Nabagesera took the bold step that would define her legacy: she founded Freedom and Roam Uganda (FARUG), the country’s first organization dedicated specifically to supporting lesbian, bisexual, and queer women. At a time when LGBTQ+ visibility in Uganda was virtually non-existent, FARUG represented a revolutionary act of self-determination and community building.

FARUG emerged from Nabagesera’s recognition that LBQ women faced unique challenges within Uganda’s patriarchal society, experiencing discrimination not only for their sexuality but also for challenging traditional gender roles and expectations. The organization became a sanctuary, offering safe spaces, peer support, legal aid, and advocacy training for women who had nowhere else to turn.

Under Nabagesera’s leadership, FARUG pioneered innovative approaches to community organizing, from underground support networks to public advocacy campaigns. The organization became a model for similar initiatives across Uganda and Africa which are used to this very day, demonstrating that even in hostile environments, marginalized communities could create institutions of resilience and resistance.

The Rolling Stone Victory: A Legal Milestone

One of Nabagesera’s most significant early victories came through her courageous response to a 2010 campaign by the Ugandan tabloid Rolling Stone. The newspaper published names and photos of suspected LGBTQ+ individuals under the inflammatory headline “Hang Them,” putting Nabagesera and fellow activist David Kato on the front page with a call for their execution.

Rather than retreat into silence, Nabagesera and Kato took the unprecedented step of suing the tabloid for violation of privacy and incitement to violence. The case, Kasha Jacqueline, David Kato Kisule and Onziema Patience v. Rolling Stone Ltd and Giles Muhame, resulted in a landmark victory in the High Court of Uganda on December 30, 2010.

The court issued a permanent injunction against Rolling Stone, prohibiting the publication from further identifying suspected LGBTQ+ individuals and ordering compensation for the plaintiffs. Justice V.F. Musoke-Kibuuka ruled that the newspaper’s actions violated constitutional rights to privacy and dignity, establishing crucial legal precedent for protecting LGBTQ+ individuals from media persecution.

Tragically, the victory was overshadowed by the murder of David Kato just weeks later. For Nabagesera, Kato’s death became both a devastating personal loss and a call to intensify her advocacy work in his memory.

KuchuTimes Media Group: Revolutionizing Representation

Understanding the power of narrative to shape public opinion, Nabagesera expanded her activism into media with the founding of KuchuTimes Media Group—a groundbreaking initiative that would become Africa’s premier LGBTQ+ media organization. Through KuchuTimes, she created multiple platforms for authentic LGBTQ+ voices:

Bombastic Magazine: Launched in 2013, this publication features writing from LGBTQ+ Ugandans sharing their experiences of discrimination, resilience, and hope. Each edition tackles different themes, from mental health to family relationships providing nuanced portrayals of LGBTQ+ life that counter mainstream media stereotypes.

KuchuTimes Digital Platform: An online hub for news, analysis, and advocacy content that reaches audiences across Africa and the diaspora, providing critical reporting on LGBTQ+ issues across the continent.

Radio and Television Programming: Expanding into broadcast media, KuchuTimes developed audio and visual content that brings LGBTQ+ stories directly into homes and communities.

Through these platforms, Nabagesera created what had never existed before: a comprehensive media ecosystem by and for LGBTQ+ Africans. 

Legal Battles: Fighting State-Sanctioned Discrimination

Nabagesera’s commitment to legal advocacy led her into multiple court battles against government overreach. The case of Nabagesera & 3 Ors v Attorney General & Anor (2014) demonstrates both the courage of her legal challenges and the hostile judicial environment she faced.

In this case, Nabagesera and fellow activists Frank Mugisha, Julian Pepe Onziema, and Geoffrey Ogwaro challenged the Minister of Ethics and Integrity’s decision to shut down an LGBTQ+ advocacy workshop at Imperial Resort Beach Hotel in Entebbe. They argued that the closure violated their constitutional rights to freedom of assembly, expression, association, and equal treatment before the law.

Despite clear evidence of discriminatory treatment, other workshops at the same venue were allowed to continue, Justice Stephen Musota ruled against the activists. The court’s decision, while disappointing, revealed the complex legal landscape LGBTQ+ advocates faced. Justice Musota acknowledged that the activities were legal but ruled that promoting homosexual acts (even through advocacy) constituted “incitement” and violated public morality.

The ruling reflected the judicial system’s willingness to prioritize what it deemed “public interest” over constitutional rights. However, the case itself was significant for several reasons:

1. Visibility: It brought LGBTQ+ rights arguments into Uganda’s highest court, forcing judges to grapple with constitutional questions of equality and human dignity.

2. Legal Precedent: Even in defeat, the case established important legal arguments about the scope of constitutional protections that would inform future litigation.

3. International Attention: The case drew global scrutiny to Uganda’s treatment of LGBTQ+ citizens, increasing pressure for reform.

4. Community Mobilization: The legal challenge demonstrated the movement’s willingness to use all available legal tools, inspiring continued advocacy despite setbacks.

The First Anti-Homosexuality Act Challenge: Constitutional Courage

Nabagesera’s most consequential legal victory came through her successful challenge to Uganda’s first Anti-Homosexuality Act in 2014. As part of a coalition of activists and civil society organizations, she argued that the law violated fundamental constitutional principles and Uganda’s international human rights obligations.

The Constitutional Court’s decision to overturn the Act on procedural grounds in August 2014 represented a momentous victory for Nabagesera and her fellow petitioners. While the court avoided ruling on the substantive human rights issues, the decision demonstrated that strategic litigation could successfully challenge even the most discriminatory legislation.

The victory was particularly significant because it:

• Established Standing: Proved that LGBTQ+ advocates had legal standing to challenge discriminatory laws
• Created Precedent: Set important procedural precedents for constitutional challenges
• Demonstrated Unity: Showed the power of coordinated legal advocacy across the LGBTQ+ movement
• International Impact: Influenced similar constitutional challenges across Africa

Though Uganda would later pass an even harsher version of the law in 2023, Nabagesera’s successful challenge to the original Act remains a testament to the power of constitutional advocacy and legal resistance.

A Gallery of Global Recognition

Nabagesera’s fearless advocacy has earned her recognition from human rights organizations worldwide, making her one of the most decorated LGBTQ+ activists of her generation:

The Martin Ennals Award (2011): The most prestigious international human rights award, making Nabagesera the first gay rights activist to receive this honor. The citation praised her “tremendous courage in the face of discrimination and violence against LGBT people in Uganda.”

The Right Livelihood Award (2015): Often called the “Alternative Nobel Prize,” this award recognized Nabagesera’s “courage and persistence, despite violence and intimidation, in working for the right of LGBTI people to a life free from prejudice and persecution.”

The Rafto Prize (2011): Shared with Sexual Minorities Uganda, acknowledging their collective impact on human rights advocacy in Norway’s most prestigious human rights honor.

Additional International Honors:

• James Joyce Award from University College Dublin (2013)
• Sean McBride Award from Amnesty International Dublin (2013)
• Civil Courage Prize, Berlin (2013)
• Nuremberg International Human Rights Award (2013)
• QX Magazine Honorary Award, Stockholm (2013)
• Bonham Centre Award, University of Toronto (2019)
• BBC 100 Women (2024)

These awards represent more than personal recognition—they signify international acknowledgment of the Ugandan LGBTQ+ movement’s legitimacy and importance. Each honor increased global awareness of the persecution facing LGBTQ+ Ugandans while providing Nabagesera with platforms to advocate for change.

Kasha’s Legacy in the Current Context: Resistance Under Siege

As Uganda grapples with the harsh realities of the 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Act—which imposes life sentences for homosexual acts and criminalizes “promotion” of LGBTQ+ identities—Nabagesera’s legacy takes on renewed urgency and significance. The institutions she built, the legal precedents she established, and the media platforms she created continue to serve the community even as the legal environment has dramatically worsened.

FARUG’s Continued Impact: The organization continues to provide crucial support services to LBQ women, adapting its strategies to operate within increasingly restrictive legal constraints while maintaining its core mission of empowerment and advocacy.

KuchuTimes’ Vital Role: The media platform remains one of the few sources of authentic LGBTQ+ news and analysis, providing both local and international audiences with nuanced coverage of developments in Uganda and across Africa.

Legal Framework Foundation: The constitutional arguments and legal precedents established through Nabagesera’s litigation continue to inform current challenges to discriminatory legislation, providing frameworks for future advocacy.

International Networks: The global relationships Nabagesera cultivated through her advocacy work continue to provide crucial support, funding, and pressure for reform.

A Legacy Written in Courage

Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera’s story is one of extraordinary courage in the face of extraordinary challenges. From a young woman expelled from school for love letters to girls, to an internationally recognized human rights champion, her journey embodies the transformative power of refusing to accept injustice as immutable.

She created Uganda’s first LBQ organization when none existed. She built Africa’s premier LGBTQ+ media platform when authentic representation was non-existent. She challenged discriminatory laws when the legal system seemed completely hostile. She continued advocating when colleagues were murdered and when she herself faced constant threats.

Through it all, she maintained not just courage but vision—understanding that lasting change required building institutions, developing leaders, changing narratives, and creating sustainable advocacy capacity. Her approach to activism has been both revolutionary and deeply practical, combining moral clarity with strategic sophistication.

As Uganda’s LGBTQ+ community faces its greatest challenges yet, Nabagesera’s legacy provides both inspiration and infrastructure. The organizations she built, the precedents she established, the leaders she mentored, and the stories she helped tell continue to sustain and empower a community under siege.

Her life’s work reminds us that even in the darkest times, even when progress seems impossible, courageous individuals can create movements that transform societies. The institutions she built will outlast any individual piece of discriminatory legislation. The networks she created will continue to provide support and solidarity. The example she set will continue to inspire future generations of advocates.

Today, we honor Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera’s remarkable achievements and the  ongoing movement she helped create , a movement that refuses to surrender hope, refuses to accept oppression, and refuses to stop fighting for a Uganda where all citizens can live with dignity, safety, and love.

The fight continues, Aluta Continua!!

This article is published as part of KuchuTimes Media Group’s celebration of Queer Legacy Month, honoring the pioneers who paved the way for LGBTQ+ rights in Uganda and across Africa.