Once again, Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba of the Church of Uganda has taken it upon himself to condemn queer people abroad—this time targeting the appointment of Archbishop Cherry Vann, an openly lesbian woman recently elected to lead the Anglican Church in Wales. According to Kaziimba, her leadership represents a departure from “God’s true values.” Yet, for […]
Kuchu Times Editor
In a historic decision that has sent ripples across the globe, Saint Lucia’s High Court has overturned two colonial-era laws criminalising consensual same-sex relations, marking a pivotal moment for LGBTQ+ rights in the Eastern Caribbean—and offering a beacon of hope for LGBTQ+ communities still facing persecution, including in Uganda. On July 29, 2025, the court struck […]
Uganda’s LGBTQ+ community is facing an unprecedented dual crisis: escalating criminalisation and a dangerous collapse in HIV services due to global funding cuts. A recent UNAIDS report warns that key populations—gay men, transgender people, sex workers, and people who inject drugs, are at greater risk than ever, as legal repression and reduced donour funding undermine decades […]
Kampala – August 1 2025 As DefendDefenders celebrates 20 years of supporting and protecting human rights defenders (HRDs), AfricanDefenders has joined to launch an intergenerational initiative: “Roots of Resistance”, a mentorship programme for young African HRDs aged 18–30 The programme seeks to empower emerging defenders across the continent through lasting mentorship, focused skills development, and […]
By Gracie Lunah Steph for Kuchu Times In a world that too often erases disabled and queer lives, July’s Disability Pride Month offers a rare moment to claim space and demand visibility. For many queer disabled people, especially in Uganda, pride is not a parade; it is a risk, a hope, a survival strategy. This […]
So all these mental gymnastics about how “they/them” doesn’t exist in African languages? Yeah, nice try. Our languages are more nuanced than we give them credit for. The problem isn’t the grammar, it’s the refusal to listen when someone tells you how they want to be seen.
I want your language raw and rough,
Ugandan slang that’s real enough.
struggling with the grammar of they/them
Call me “mwana, chief or boss,”
but respect my vibe, I’m my own boss.
You can spank me with “uncertain” love,
leave me panting for a “maybe” from above.
Against this backdrop, Kenya’s vote to renew the UN LGBTQ+ expert’s mandate stands as a modest but meaningful gesture. It shows that even in contexts of criminalisation, states can choose to engage with international mechanisms for accountability and reform rather than deflect or deny the problem.
Corporations and entities talk a big game when it comes to standing up for the marginalized, but when push comes to shove and they have to actually make bottom line decisions to stand with these communities, their “values” are not that deep afterall.
This reversal jeopardizes the safety and rights of already vulnerable LGBTQ+ Ugandans by appearing to legitimize Uganda’s state sanctioned violence against them. The World Bank now provides resources and validation to a government actively engaged in persecuting a segment of its own population.