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.
Kuchu Times Editor
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trangender (LGBT+) refugees in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi are staging a peaceful demonstration at the Refugee Affairs Secretariat (RAS) offices urging the concerned authorities to grant them movement passes allowing them to relocate from the main city to Kakuma Refugee camp.
Civil society groups in Uganda called on the Government and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to publicly condemn the brutal attacks against LGBT Ugandans, which have been escalating in number, following the most recent case where 16 LGBT Ugandans were threatened by a mob in Kyengera, a neighborhood in Kampala, on October 21.
As an organization and a member of the Uganda Network of Sex-workers’ Organization (UNESO), we highly condemn these acts of violence and human rights violation on our brothers and sisters and call upon the right organs of government to step in and do their work.
With the recent revelation that the government is planning to re-introduce the anti-homosexuality bill, attacks against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer persons in Uganda have escalated in both number and gravity. In the past week, there have been reports of attacks against LBGT+ identifying persons from different parts of the country.
We have learnt from past events not to overlook public statements about this matter as they are indicative of what is being planned but are also cognizant of the fact that the statements cited above were made in the context of a five-year anniversary since the annulment of the Anti-homosexuality Act.
As if the societal witch-hunt is not enough, Parliament of Uganda yesterday committed to re-tabling the Anti-Homosexuality Bill by 28th October 2019, at the latest. This new development was confirmed by the State Minister of Ethics and Integrity Fr. Simon Lokodo in an interview with Thomas Reuters. The new bill which calls for the death penalty of persons found guilty of engaging in same sex relations is expected to be passed before the year is out.
The drop in center offers services ranging from STI screening and treatment, HIV testing and Counselling, Oral Quick Tests, Condom use demonstration and distribution as well as distribution of lubricants, first aid, enhanced effective referral, linkage and retention into HIV treatment, prevention, care and support services, PrEP, psychosocial support services, referrals to proctology, HIV literacy treatment awareness, adherence information and resources on hormones and hormone therapy.
What is happening now is a repeat of 2014 after the passing of the AHB into law- which saw an increase in the number of attacks and violations against LGBT identifying individuals, loss of jobs, evictions from homes as well as an influx in the number of Ugandan LGBT persons that fled to Kenya in search of a safe haven.
The 30-minute docudrama highlights the daily realities of male sex workers in Uganda as they’re confronted by the present repressive laws, their plight as they carry on their trade and hopes for a future that they can only dream of for now.