Welcome to Kampala, where the battle against one of the world’s harshest anti-LGBT laws begins on Monday. The Uganda court will decide on the constitutionality of the Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA), but there is far more at stake than just a legal decision.
LGBT activists argue that the AHA has given people in Uganda an unwritten license to mistreat and discriminate against sexual minorities. While the law had resulted in at least five charges, including two that carry the death penalty, many more have faced torture, sexual abuse, intimidation, and eviction at the hands of private citizens.
Uganda’s government has dismissed claims of abuse, with spokesperson Ofwono Opondo refusing to give credence to “falsehoods,” while also reiterating that the AHA is intended to criminalize same-sex activity, not penalize the LGBT community.
But for three members of Uganda’s LGBT community, the impact of the AHA is real. Sandra, a 23-year-old lesbian, found herself jobless and homeless after being evicted from her parents’ house for her sexual orientation. Pingu, a 22-year-old gay man, faced disownment and a horrific incident of rape and robbery. Their stories highlight the very real consequences of living under this law.
The battle against the AHA is much more than a simple legal challenge – it is a fight for the basic rights and safety of the LGBT community in Uganda.
