The Struggling Life of Gay Community in Uganda

The Struggling Life of Gay Community in Uganda

“In Uganda starting from February 24th 2014, when the anti-gay law had been approved, everything it has changed” stays S. , 30 years old from Kampala. “My life has had a meltdown and now I live in constant fear that someone will knock on my door and arrest me, or worse, make me disappear.” This law, in the form in which it had been  approved, provides for penalties of up to life imprisonment for everyone who is accused  of the "crime of homosexuality" and up to 7 years for everyone  who is accused of aiding and abetting. Crime of aiding that can “condemn” even the lawyers of the accused person or a witness. It makes extremely difficult to defend those who are accused. Now, in addition, it is no longer necessary to take the a person  in the sexual act: in the fragrance of full ratification,  suspicion of homosexuality is enough to be accused. All the churches in the country,  in particular the Evangelical Church and the Pentecostal Church , after being among  the promoters of the law are now  those who promote and lead  the most anti-gay propaganda. In the latest  months, because of  fear and  inability to go out  even just to take a bus, alcoholism has increased greatly within the gay community. For lots of them it has become the only way to escape  reality or to spend  their  time. Their life enjoys if they can take the opportunity to live in  protected locations. The majority go to bar  owned by people they can trust blindly, friends who do not  abandon them . The richest people usually go to  places frequented mainly by the few Westerners in the country. Exclusive places extremely expensive.

by Aldo Soligno

“In Uganda starting from February 24th 2014, when the anti-gay law had been approved, everything it has changed” stays S. , 30 years old from Kampala. “My life has had a meltdown and now I live in constant fear that someone will knock on my door and arrest me, or worse, make me disappear.” This law, in the form in which it had been  approved, provides for penalties of up to life imprisonment for everyone who is accused  of the "crime of homosexuality" and up to 7 years for everyone  who is accused of aiding and abetting. Crime of aiding that can “condemn” even the lawyers of the accused person or a witness. It makes extremely difficult to defend those who are accused. Now, in addition, it is no longer necessary to take the a person  in the sexual act: in the fragrance of full ratification,  suspicion of homosexuality is enough to be accused. All the churches in the country,  in particular the Evangelical Church and the Pentecostal Church , after being among  the promoters of the law are now  those who promote and lead  the most anti-gay propaganda. In the latest  months, because of  fear and  inability to go out  even just to take a bus, alcoholism has increased greatly within the gay community. For lots of them it has become the only way to escape  reality or to spend  their  time. Their life enjoys if they can take the opportunity to live in  protected locations. The majority go to bar  owned by people they can trust blindly, friends who do not  abandon them . The richest people usually go to  places frequented mainly by the few Westerners in the country. Exclusive places extremely expensive.

Kampala. Uganda. Leticia (Nickname) and D. in front of their office. Kampala. Uganda. M. 24 years old, student.
He rented an house with four other gay activists. “We chose this house because of its hight walls. We are afraid about the situation here against lgbt community and those walls protect us and our privacy.” Kampala. Uganda.
During the weekend, middle-class homosexuals try to break their isolation at home by attending safe places: such as those managed by their relatives, trusted friends, or meeting places frequented by Westerners. Unfortunately, the latter accessible only to those with a certain ease statement. Kampala. Uganda. K. 27 years old. Activist. Kampala. Uganda. S. 30 years old, activist. Kampala. Uganda. L. 27 years old and A. 24 years old in their home. Kampala. Uganda. Leticia (Nickname) 28 years old.
During the weekend, middle-class homosexuals try to break their isolation at home by attending safe places: such as those managed by their relatives, trusted friends, or meeting places frequented by Westerners. Unfortunately, the latter accessible only to those with a certain ease statement. Kampala. Uganda. K. 34 years old. Activist. “From 24 February 2014, our life has become very hard to live. Before we were an underground community, but we were vibrant. Now we all have fear. Nobody wants to meet others, or even leave the house. We feel prisoners.
Sadly now I can not see any light, but I do not want to leave my country. This is the most beautiful country that exists. Where else can I reach out to a tree and pluck a so good mango.” Kampala. Uganda. Killa (Nickname) and Bon (Nickname). Kampala. Uganda.
Following the approval of the law, all the major tabloids in the country as Red Pepper, Hello and The Sun, have spent weeks posting pictures of hundreds of suspected homosexuals and activists. Kampala. Uganda. D. 23 years old and B. 24 years old. Kampala. Uganda.
During the weekend, middle-class homosexuals try to break their isolation at home by attending safe places: such as those managed by their relatives, trusted friends, or meeting places frequented by Westerners. Unfortunately, the latter accessible only to those with a certain ease statement. Kampala. Uganda. M. 24 years old and A. 22 years old. Kampala. Uganda. S. 30 years old, activist. Kampala. Uganda. K. 34 years old. Activist. “From 24 February 2014, our life has become very hard to live. Before we were an underground community, but we were vibrant. Now we all have fear. Nobody wants to meet others, or even leave the house. We feel prisoners.
Sadly now I can not see any light, but I do not want to leave my country. This is the most beautiful country that exists. Where else can I reach out to a tree and pluck a so good mango.” Kampala. Uganda. Leticia (Nickname) 28 years old. Kampala. Uganda.
During the weekend, middle-class homosexuals try to break their isolation at home by attending safe places: such as those managed by their relatives, trusted friends, or meeting places frequented by Westerners. Unfortunately, the latter accessible only to those with a certain ease statement. Kampala. Uganda. K. 27 years old and D. 24 in their home. Kampala. Uganda. A. 24 in front of her home. Kampala. Uganda. D. 24 years old. Kampala. Uganda. D. 24 years old, activist. Kampala. Uganda. K. 27 years old, activist. Kampala. Uganda. S. 30 years old, activist. Kampala. Uganda. S. 30 years old, activist. Kampala. Uganda.
During the weekend, middle-class homosexuals try to break their isolation at home by attending safe places: such as those managed by their relatives, trusted friends, or meeting places frequented by Westerners. Unfortunately, the latter accessible only to those with a certain ease statement.