Press Release to ILGA from LGBTI Uganda
The month of May started on a tough note concerning LGBT rights for gay Ugandans. Two groups of athletes registered to participate in Gay Sports in France and Germany were denied visas in spite of fulfilling all requirements established by both embassies.
LGBTI Uganda had registered a women’s volley ball team to compete in the Saaleperlen Games in Leipzig, Germany, between the 15th -20th May 2013. Out of the 8 applicants; including a Badminton Team for men, only 3 persons were granted visas! These included two men, for Badminton, and 1 woman, the captain, for the Volley Ball Women’s team.
This was a great shock to the 5 women who had spent weeks under intense training. The team immediately hired a lawyer to help with the appeal process, since the games were about 2 weeks away. To the team’s surprise, the embassy insisted the appeal process would last 4 weeks, a time frame which wouldn’t allow them participate in the games and a workshop organized for them on: How to Survive in an Extremely Homophobic Environment.
As expected, the organizers too where not impressed by the decision. But to their further surprise, most of their protest emails got no feedback except one that made it categorically clear that the embassy ‘deals with applicants, not third parties’. Protest letters to the German Foreign Affairs ministry were met with excuses too; all authority, with regards to visas is handled by local embassies.
In earlier correspondences between the organizers and the LGBTI Uganda team, one of the organizers noted that there could be some local staff at the German embassy that were opposed to Gay Rights and that the team should exercise the necessary precautions. Unfortunately, the team didn’t take the caution seriously until a senior native employee at the German embassy called some of the female players and preached to them for several minutes begging them “in God’s name to repent”. At the end of their submission, another called one of the two male players and told him that the team was not “presentable enough”.
The reasons given for the denial of visas were:
1. Lack of sufficient proof of means to sustain themselves while in Germany.
2. Lack of proof that the team would leave Germany upon completion of the games.
3. Lack of sufficient attachment to their country to enable them return home etc….
But team LGBTI Uganda has been to Sweden, Netherlands and in several parts of Uganda. This team had gotten a local sponsor for the German games who offered to buy return air tickets and 200 Euros per participant in pocket money. The organizers in Leipzig too, sent letters confirming the availability of meals and full accommodation for the team. Besides, every team member had health travel insurance worth the required 30,000 Euros.
Then, with the help of the team’s lawyer, affidavits were sworn by all athletes pledging to leave Germany upon the end of the games. And family photos were attached together with properties, birth certificates of dependants, personal bank statements etc…
Up to today, however, there is no word on the fate of the 5 female volley ball players from the German Embassy in Kampala. Why is this so? We are sure they are waiting for the mandatory 4 weeks to expire.
On the side of the French Embassy, all three LGBTI Uganda athletes were turned down. The same reasons were given like the Germans. Yet even after proving that 2 of the 3 were student finalists who couldn’t just abandon their studies, the embassy remained adamant. Even when the remaining athlete proved that he had a stable job with a very good remuneration package and assets, the answer was a resounding no!
The 3 had been registered by LBTI Uganda to participate in Mountain Biking and Squash in the Tournoi International de Paris 2013 happening between 14th -20th May 2013 in Paris. The organizers gave full proof of accommodation and meals, and the participants equally proved their capacity to attend, return home and continue with their life here in Uganda. The team’s sponsor too accepted to offer air tickets and ample pocket money on condition that LGBTI Uganda guaranteed participants would honor their obligations.
It’s a pity that the German and French Embassies have turned their backs on gay Ugandans despite of the fact that they are in full knowledge of the high levels of homophobia in this country. The teams strongly believe, that in sports, they would interact with their like; exchange ideas and draw support from one another. The teams believe that participating in these sports would be a huge blow to homophobia in Uganda. The teams strongly believe that sports would defeat hate with love, condemnation with compassion, discrimination with understanding.
And while the teams remain in the depths of the dark corners of homophobia itself; they remain strong in spirit and forever indebted to the organizers in France, like Antoine Le Blanc and Hubert Quarantel-Colombani together with Matthias Lendner of Germany. Thank you for all your efforts.

Elvis Kiwanuka
National Coordinator
LGBTI Uganda

Kaweesi Joseph was arrested by Kawempe police officers for mere posting on face book and now he's being charged for homosexuality
Gaysandlesbiansrightsuganda

Hello, ,
I hope this finds you in good moods with family and friends. Let me take this opportunity on the behalf of our organization to introduce ourselves. We are a Gay group comprised of individuals from diverse backgrounds and attained various technical skills from academic institutions. We identified a problem early in schools and our homesteads of being discriminated and exerted to domestic violence in private and public institutions. Due to that situation we analyzed in Uganda, after attaining higher education we decided to formulate an organization aimed at addressing the guy community affairs and fighting for our rights. We are also Ugandans with a right to share our values and benefits from the common resources of the country, but because we are Gay and that's what we want and believe in, we face routinely collective domestic violence and discrimination by various public and private institutions.

We understand that we are among the minority groups in Uganda, but we think and believe that, that's what we are. We are hoping to reach out to all Gay communities in Uganda, schools, trade centers and higher academic institutions addressing our values and opportunities to build confidence into ourselves so that we can compete on a leveled group with the majority for socio-economic opportunities in Uganda. Also we want to establish dialogues and meetings with the responsible stakeholders like the Uganda Central Government so that the expected Anti Guy Bills is not passed because it denies us our human rights.

However much, we want to accomplished all these tasks, fighting for our rights, we are stagnated and held back by the limited resources at our disposal at a moment. So we really need help and backup from the international boards and concerned individuals like you. Hence, we will be very grateful and humbled when our call is answered.

Thank you very much for your time and we are waiting anxiously to hear from you.

ameliakyambadde@gmail.com

Conservative MP Margot James has urged for the world’s politicians to promote gay rights at a Westminster conference that was chaired by Uganda’s anti-gay Speaker Rebecca Kadaga. Last week, Ms Kadaga claimed the country’s notorious Anti-Homosexuality Bill would soon be passed by lawmakers and the Ugandan MP confirmed that she had no intention of blocking the legislation, which proposes barbaric sentences for those convicted. Speaking on Tuesday at the International Parliamentary Conference on Gender and Politics held in Westminster at Portcullis House, London, Stourbridge MP Margot James urged delegates from over 40 different nations to promote gay rights in their countries. After speaking in the debate on the use of quotas to ensure greater parliamentary representation for women, Ms James challenged female legislators in the Commonwealth to confront homophobic persecution. “We agree on the need for more women in our parliaments and governments, but we also need to reflect on why we need more women to be elected, a greater defence of freedoms and human rights is needed,” said Ms James. “As a gay woman I would not be able to even stand for election in many of the countries represented here today, and the situation is even more dire for gay men in so much of the Commonwealth. She added: “I urge the women legislators here today to stand up for the gay minority in your country and remember those who, like women are discriminated against, and bring that discrimination to an end.”

Here is the link ....http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2012/11/07/ugandan-anti-gay-speaker-chairs-london-human-rights-conference/

It has once again happened that intellectual freedom has been
curtailed in Uganda following the raid by police of an
anti-discrimination play by Talented Ugandan Kuchus/queers (TUK/q), a
group of young talented performers whose message is of
non-discrimination. The production titled "Lighting the Shadows" was
this evening rudely interrupted by one gentleman who had several
policemen to back him. The audience was dispersed and so was the cast.
Every one was ordered out of the theater. The coalition was one of the
major sponsors of this advocacy event to which the public as well as
the diplomatic corps were invited

Greetings from GEHO - Uganda, which was founded with a Vision of “A just Society where LGBTi Community access Total Health and enjoy their Human Rights” while our Mission is “GEHO – Uganda exists to restore human dignity of LGBTi communities/persons and address access to health services through Information, Outreach, Service Provision and Strategic Partnerships”. Our mission and vision are being realized through the following objectives; - To provide key health and legal services to the LGBTi Community, To work towards improvement of SRHR and contribute to the fight against HIV/AIDS among the LGBTi, To create a sustainable partnerships and networks with same minded Organizations to address issues affecting the LGBTi AND To create strengthen GEHO – Uganda institutional capacity to be able to fulfill our mandate.

http://klug.cfsites.org/custom.php?pageid=38064

Speaker Kadaga promises to revive shelved gay Bill

The Speaker’s promise follows her experience in Canada, where foreign officials asked her to block the bill.


Entebbe

Days after her defence against a Canadian minister’s attacks on Uganda over homosexuality, Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga has promised to expedite the debate on the Anti-Homosexuality Bill.

Ms Kadaga made the assurance while addressing religious leaders and journalists at Entebbe International Airport on Monday. “They said I should stop the debate on the Anti-Homosexuality Bill but I assured them there is no way I can block a private members Bill,” she said.

At the Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting in Quebec, Canada, Ms Kadaga was involved in an altercation with that country’s Foreign Affairs minister, Mr John Baird, after the latter accused Uganda of trampling on human rights.

The accusation saw Ms Kadaga tell the minister to stick to the day’s theme and respect Uganda’s sovereignty. “I will not accept to be intimidated or directed by any government in the world on matters of homosexuality,” she said, adding that she was not aware she was speaking for many people in the world, some of whom were in the conference.

“I was surprised when colleagues came and thanked me saying that’s what they have always wanted to say but they had never gotten the courage to. That when it came to me that I had spoken for the whole of Africa, for the Arab world and Asians,” she said.

The welcome ceremony and press briefing was organised by religious leaders, former Ethics and Integrity Minister Nsaba Buturo and the mover of the Bill, Mr David Bahati, all of whom are pushing for the enactment of the anti-homosexuality Bill.

A large procession comprising members of different Pentecostal churches, Makerere University students and boda boda cyclists camped at the airport from 10am to after midnight when Ms Kadaga emerged to greet them as they ululated and waved placards appreciating her boldness in Canada.

“You are our saviour, we want the bill now,” one of the placards read.
Pastor Michael Were, who spoke on behalf of the religious leaders, called on other national leaders to follow Ms Kadaga’s footsteps for the sake of the country’s culture and traditions.

Asked whether she was not mindful of Uganda being denied aid and her being denied entry visas to pro-gay countries, Ms Kadaga said such countries were welcome to keep their aid and visas.

I MAKE LOVE WITH PHOTOS AND PICTURES
I am a lesbian living in Uganda. I have lived in the closet for more than 24 years of my life. I am 28 years now and a graduate student from one of the universities here.

I am very aware of the homophobia here because it even stinks but I have finally decided to get out of the closet and live my life. However, even then, it is extremely difficult to get a partner yet my body is normal and reactive. I have made several attempts at getting a woman,including this attempt that I am going to narrate at length, but failed.

After a very long but empty search, I decided to visit a bar in the City of Kampala that I heard was for LGBTI people. I went there once, twice, thrice and made friends there. These friends of mine were mostly men. So on one of these strategic visits, I approach a young woman, get her phone number and promise to give her a call the following day. I go home shortly after that and sleep happily. The following day, I load enough airtime on my phone and call up the girl and she can't understand how a girl can 'ask for an intimate relationship' from a fellow girl. The girl was rough and rude to me. I got so so so scared.

Now, I fear asking more girls because when I asked for her phone from that club, I was sure I was 'dealing' with one of my own. 'They' use our space but can't even stand thinking about 'us' in theirs.

Now, I only make love with internet photos of lesbians making love on my little laptop. UGANDA HAS DENIED ME MY SEXUAL RIGHT.

HEY THERE!
AM A DUDE LOOKING FOR A SEXUALLY STARVED LESIBIAN FOR REAL SEX SATISFACTION PLEASE CALL OR TEX ME ON +256779232970/ +256703491229
TAKE CARE

ESCAPE FROM THE POLICE IMMANUEL DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION UGANDA ESCAPED FROM THE POLICE RAID AS WE HELP THEY YOUTH GAYS AND LESBIANS CONFERENCE AND ACTIVISM. IT WAS A DARK NIGHT ON SATURDAY WHEN THE POLICE ATTACKED AND SCATTERED ALL MEMBERS AT THE REGENCY HOTEL KABUSU WHILE WE WERE DISCUSSING ISSUES ON HOW WE CAN CREAT AWARENESS ON ILGA RIGHTS AND ALSO HOW TO SUPPORT VARIOUS YOUTH WHO ARE MEMBERS. THE POLICE CONFISCATED OUR PA MACHINES AND THE DIRECTORS WERE ARRESTED SO WE REALLY CALL UPON THE MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY TO JOIN US IN BAILING OUT OUR 3 MEMBERS THE COURT REQUESTED US TO PAY BAIL OF 4000 DOLLARS SO WE ARE WORKING THIS OUT AND ANY WELL WISHERS CAN HELP, ALSO WE ARE LOOKING FOR A LAWYER TO HELP OUR MEMBERS WITH THIS CASE HERE IN UGANDA AND ANY HELP WILL BE APPRECIATED.

The rest of the world should help look into the situation in Uganda and the current bill against gays that is being tabled in parliament.Problem also is that many of the gay people are just talkers.They talk the talk but cannot walk the walk.People are so scared about losing their lives and being discriminated that they are forced to live double lives.So many are depressed and have nowhere to turn to and with time,i will not be surprised if there is a high rate of suicides occuring in my country Uganda.Anyway,i hope the situation gets better soon which i really do not think will happen but hey,what can one do other than stay positive even in a negative situation?

I call upon all people that believe in human rights for all to come out and we use this chance to put more pressure on Uganda government not only to reject the bill but also to force it to decriminalize homosexuality , respect human rights and stop discrimination against gays . We should not allow to be fooled by the minister's statement as its an attempt to try to justify the Bill and think that the world will just go in slumber and let the bill go through. This bill is not good regardless of any sugar coating attempt as it tends to violate the basic human rights and freedoms of a certain section of people in Uganda .

The excuse to protect children is a mere joke as children in Uganda are faced with serious problems like poverty, child prostitution, rape, death in childbirth of young teens, child sacrifice than homosexuality .This bill is being brought in bad faith its intended to promote hatred. I am scared that that according to parliamentary procedure, if its a private members bill the President Museveni can not use his veto powers to reject it . He can return it twice and then after a month, it becomes law, even over his objections but even we can not trust President Museveni as he 's well known to hate dislike homosexuals

In a democracy, one has to allow room and space to listen to the other side arguing their case. Much the same way is expected for one to be listened to. The Anti Homosexuality Bill, 2009 as well as 2 other stigmatizing and discriminating bills (The HIV Bill and Equal Opportunities Bill)will continue to find their way on the floor of parliament. Even as a practicing physician, the volunteer spirit to treat the "gay" will be stepped upon! There is a fear of repercussions for such reaching out. As long as the HIV Bill,2009 is still mentioned ( like yesterday, 07/02/2012) morale, motivation and effort to roll back HIV/STIs will also die!!

VULNERABILITY SPECTRUM

BACKGROUND: A systematic review of responses from 30,000 spaces was carried out in 10 regions of Uganda.
OBJECTIVE: A systematic review of responses from 30,000 spaces where inquiry into who MARPs are, what MARPs need, who provides services, what is demanded, what are the behavioural characteristics unique to MARPs and other contexts influencing issues of MARPs that was conducted between July 2010-August 2011.
DESIGN: Conduct Review of literature, Interviews, structured conversation and focus group discussions. Respondents were drawn from; 150 farmer groups, 220 hair salons, 27 landing sites, 27 police posts, 110 cattle/village markets/social spaces, 225 major RH/FP/MH/CS/Health Services organisations, with leaders and members of 100 FBOs/2200 CBOs/CSOs/Community Groups, 2,550 lower level governments and communities, with members of 3,000 men/Women groups/settings, in 19,174 trading and urban spaces (Artisanry marts, car dealerships, repair garages, washing bays, food vending kiosks, video kiosks, shopping malls, recreational spaces) along 6 major trunk roads and 25 other roads leading to rural districts, 250 educational institutes (higher institutions of learning, colleges, senior/primary schools), 100 minorities’ spaces, 72 fresh foods markets, 200 hotels/lodges, 25 housing estate areas ( e.g. Jinja industrial area, Kampala, Gulu, Mbarara, Kasese, Tororo, Mbale), 170 ludo/snooker points, 1,700 storage and parking bays/car-park/boda/lorry/bus-parks in urban settings.
SETTING: Uganda was divided into operational regions: Central, Northern, Eastern, North Eastern, Mid-Western and south-Western where 30,000 were identified and these included: Lower level governments, urban centers, municipalities, towns, market areas, boarder points, social-meeting places, recreational spaces, food vending areas, film kiosks, shopping malls, parks, washing bays, road stop spots, educational institutions and CSOs. 5 lakes were visited to generate understanding of fisher folk communities.
RESPONDENTS: We used groups and individual key informants that way 30,000 Key informants were mobilised to include; leaders, community members, PLHIV, MSM, Substance users, sex-workers, fisher folk, key persons at road stop spot, bar-owners, informal sector, car-parks, bus-parks, work-place-exit points, school leaders, out-door games’ organizers, and uniformed services.
INTERVENTIONS: The police and criminal justice system are points for violence redress. Other forms of Violence/stigma counselling centers exist in major towns/municipals; public and private health facilities provide treatment and management of HIV/STIs; CSOs and government social services’ departments have planned programmes targeting MARPs.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENT: MARPs character and vulnerability spectrum in Uganda.
RESULTS: At community of residence level right through the Criminal justice system, substance users, MSM, Sex-workers and PLHIV still face stigma and violence. Sex-work (female, male and child sex-work) is rampant along all major road trunks and in major destination towns towards Uganda’s boarders. Education and housing areas have high prevalence of male/female sex-work, same sex practices and substance use. Violence/stigma counselling centers exist in major towns/municipals; public and private health facilities provide treatment and management of HIV/STIs; CSOs and government social services’ departments have planned programmes targeting MARPs. Key affected populations such as MSM and substance users being criminalized still lack focused programmes targeting them. Communities still do discriminate and stigmatize Key affected populations such as PLHIV, MSM and substance users. There is a tendency to box MARPs issues into HIV Programmes and this has influenced the approach to most programming. Messaging to eradicate risks to HIV should factor in fact that substance use, unprotected anal sex, female sex-work, male sex-work, child sex-work are interconnections in sexual networks
VULNERABILITY:
CENTRAL REGION: These included; Buganda, Busoga sub-region, Bugwere and Bugisu. The MARPs characteristics range from substance use, child sex-work, fisher folk, MSM, LGBTIQQ, male/female sex-work, PLHIV, young people who are sexually active, long distance drivers, and uniformed services. Vulnerability was around; quick mobility, fear of consequences of visibility, stigma, sexual practices, gendered sexual beliefs and the gap between haves and have nots.
NORTH-EASTERN REGION: These included; Karamoja sub-region. The MARPs characteristics range from substance use, child sex-work, PLHIV, young people who are sexually active. Vulnerability was around; quick mobility, displacements arising from searching for pasture and child neglect
MID-WESTERN REGION: These included; Kasese, Hoima, Buliisa and Fort Portal. The MARPs characteristics range from substance use, child sex-work, fisher folk, MSM, Indigenous Tribes, male/female sex-work around mining and cement industry, PLHIV, young people who are sexually active, long distance drivers, and uniformed services. Vulnerability was around; perceptions of men about mid-Western Uganda females, quick mobility, fear of consequences of visibility, stigma, gap between haves and have nots.
SOUTH-WESTERN REGION: These included; Kabale and Ankole Sub-region. The MARPs characteristics range from substance use, child sex-work, fisher folk, MSM, LGBTIQQ, male/female sex-work, PLHIV, young people who are sexually active, long distance drivers, and uniformed services. Vulnerability was around; quick mobility, fear of consequences of visibility, stigma, cultural perceptions around sexuality and sexual intercourse acts.
WEST-NILE REGION: These included; Arua and Madi Sub-region. The MARPs characteristics range from substance use, child sex-work, fisher folk, male/female sex-work, PLHIV, young people who are sexually active, long distance drivers, and uniformed services. Vulnerability was around; quick mobility, fear of consequences of visibility, stigma, cultural perceptions around sexuality and sexual intercourse acts, and inter-cultural social experiences.
NORTHERN SUB REGION: These included; Acholi and Lango Sub-region. The MARPs characteristics range from substance use, child sex-work, fisher folk, MSM, male/female sex-work, PLHIV, young people who are sexually active, long distance drivers, and uniformed services. Vulnerability was around; quick mobility, fear of consequences of visibility, stigma, cultural perceptions around sexuality and sexual intercourse acts.
IN-DEPTH INTERVIEWS:
“As a town dweller, I do know of substance use, anal sex, female sex-work, male sex-work and child sex-work in this town and many others. The clients include professional persons, odd-jobs workers, artisans, students and non-school young people”. Ashraf (Wandegeya), Florence (Nansana), Grace (Kawempe), Jerome (Migyeera), Cosma (Nimule) and Rashid (Mbale).
“Am a male sex-worker since 2007, my kind of clients have my phone contacts and book in different hotels in different towns of Uganda. They send me a text message and we meet for sex. Most times they also ask me to bring other friends when they are many. Some of our clients do use substances, especially they smoke marijuana”. Crystal (Kampala).
“We want to be trained in skills to start up alternative businesses besides depending on Fishing”. Bukenya (Kyamuswa, Mazinga, Kalangala Islands of Lake Victoria), Arthur (Lake Albert), Ogwer (Lake Kioga).
“Yes, there are programmes on HIV and Human Rights as part of the prison services, hopefully this will be a big step in improving prevention practices”. (Key informant).
“Am interested in two things now that we have met. How your organisation can help us “handle” MARPs since we are increasingly working in that area” . (Key informant from a leading health organisation).
“ What is that nonsense? Every one is a MARP!” ( Key informant and district official).
“ The issues such as stigma, dialogue around discrimination and their relation to HIV are points to start with in starting and driving conversation around MARPs issues”. (Key informant and Community Development Officer).
“Am a trans-woman and I feel so insecure. I have to keep in-doors and only get out at night or make sure I put on long coats and a cap if am to conduct outreach services for other trans-women in Uganda”. (Leader of Trans-Women Bureau Uganda).
“ I am a transgendered male to female person and my parents are aware of my sexuality and gender identity. I wonder why we do not have seminars targeting parents and families. Our families are the first points of insecurity for many of the gay people.” (Leader of Young MSM Club in Uganda).
“ We are ready to conduct community campaigns against “mob-justice” as this is one very unjust way communities deal with what they disagree with. Communities should learn to use the justice system and believe in it. Other reported complaints are evictions, black-mail, extortion and deliberate hostility actions”. (Key informant from law and order section).
LIMITATION: This exercise was conducted to generate vulnerability before testing and it explored issues around visibility of various MARPs.
CONCLUSION: Contexts ranging from Policy, programmes, public and private settings form and influence actions targeting MARPs issues. HIV risk is one major issue most organisations target. However, before testing or accessing an HCT service MARPs need to be looked at as vulnerable and that vulnerability is disproportionate. Criminalization, Stigma and violence form a barrier that silences MSM, Sex-workers and substance users and it may cause them to go underground. This may not be the case for fisher folk, Long distance truckers or uniformed services. MARPs issues include demand for skills training to access anti-poverty programmes such as social grants. Public and private settings have all the basics in place to provide redress to all issues of MARPs. However, they are also points of violence to some MARPs.

We ve experienced alot of suffering from government,community and also from our family members that ve expressed strong resentments towards us yet we would have expected protection refugee from them can you imagine your own family member threating you all the time because of you being ahomosexual
I have afriend who told me that because of his family members knowing that he 's agay some of them are now taking advantage of him by demanding money from him threating to report him to police community leaders (Local council chairman) and to his boss. He told me his father has now chased him away and told him if he see him back again on his land or house he will pull out his machete and cut him he 's ready to go to prison. I call upon all members to come out and help our brother
Please we ' re seeking for your advice

I have no respect for religious tyrants how spread hate people are too sexy for their hate, too sexy for their lies, and too sexy for their self-righteous genocide. We must expose the religious tyrants for the evil control freaks that they are let us not give them room

Ilost my job after the Red pepper published alist of homosexuals including my name and the boss even threatened me to hand over me to police and now following the recent publication of the rolling stone saying that gays are after recruiting children i got insults from some people how threat ed to kill me if they see me talking with any of their children. This has forced me to move away from that area and i fear going to village as most of the people in the village are aware that am agay so am not safe anything can happen to me anytime but i can not change my identity and i can not trust anybody now . so life is full of isolation ,insults threats and violence its quite problematic Gays and Lesbians rights Uganda GLRU

Gays and lesbians are suffering hate crimes on a daily basis some families have thrown people out, we have lesbians and gay men sleeping on the streets of Kampala because they have nowhere to stay. some relatives have organised for lesbians to be raped. Iike Mukasa has gone through this its only those who are brave ,bold that come out to speak i think now gays and lesbians in Uganda have reached one million its high time we all come out and begin a rigorous campaign demanding for recognition and equal rights.Let us have our right to privacy, right to education life and health .Please just live us to live in peace we know that some people find homosexuality reprehensible but just live us in peace. Some lesbians have been stripped naked in church in the name of healing them from lesbianism being abused by people who claim they re men of God reported to the police but nothing is done Its high time we begin to decamp gain African governments that have failed to recognise the rights of homosexuals like president Museveni 'S government which has been responsible carrying out arbitrary arrest torture imprisonment of gays since September 1999 that has resulted into anumber of homosexuals losing their life's on the basis of orders from the above this has been done by the the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Force (UPDF) and its military intelligence branch, Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI),Internal Security Organization (ISO),cmi, ISO, and other security agencies,Violent Crime Crack Unit (VCCU), a special unit comprised of CMI, ISO, and other security agen­cies, replacing Operation Wembley, tasked with stopping crimethe police and its Criminal Investigation Department [CID] and RRU

Some of us have been a victim of inhuman treatment.police raided my home in 2005, took away documents and arrested my guest, beat him.
We were treated in a degrading and inhumane way. Many of us have continued to such similar injustice but no one cares such human rights violations are unacceptable We have had enough of the abuse, neglect and violence. and the government is found of denying the existences of police brutality,now the clergy are all the time demonising us. This acts are forcing homosexuals to live double not of our choice something should be done
Gay and lesbiansrights uganda

Let us combine and continue to speak out and fight against the forces of hatred being spearheaded by the church, the president, first lady community leaders and the Ugandan press. In Uganda the press is now leading the hate campaigns as they are found of giving description that are very detailed and personal which are dangerous for the person named and depicted. The Red pepper has produced a number of articles that demonise homosexuals on 24 September 2010 it came out with an article HOMO TERROR launching a Vite smear campaign against Mworeko the tabloid placed his picture on the front page under the screaming headline "This gay monster raped boys in school, but failed to bonk his wife". In all my years of activism this was one of the most disgusting immoral vile, smear campaign i have ever witnessed and now even children have joined the hate campaigns like the anti-gay rally last year.Surprisingly the human rights watch never came out to condemn or stop them.The Redpepper newspaper is owned by General Saleh Caleb Akandwanaho a brother to presdient Museveni that 's why it has gone on for along time enjoying the impunity of smearing homos as the editors are aware they are protected by the government this prompted the Rolling Stone to also come out with an article calling for Hanging homosexuals. Of recent President Museveni came out and said Homosexuals have no place in Uganda as if we are not Ugandans again no one came out to condemn Museveni or remind him about the Universal Declaration of human rights Article 2 that states " Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.".President Museveni is Robert Mugabe of Uganda a homophobic tyrant who tramples on democracy and human rights.With this acts its time that we must redouble our efforts to stop the hate campaign that has infected Uganda and other nations in Africa sparking anti gay witch hunts as sexual orientation is a universal right

I together with religious conservatism and laws inspired by the judeo-Christian traditions and inherited from the colonial era, have combined to make Uganda and Africa a thorny ground for homosexuality. In the n uganda the hatred for homosexual has gone increasing because many Africans have anarrow view of homosexuality What I want us to remove from people is that whenever you mention gays or same sex relationships, they just think about sex, sex, sex, and nothing postive against gays“We are human being who need some one to live with, In the companionship and encouragement; there are so many things we can do other than thinking about sex and criminalising our acts such deep rooted mindset together with together with religious conservatism and laws inspired by the judeo-Christian traditions and inherited from the colonial era and our con tuned hatred by president Museveni has put lives of gays in danger with no protection, have combined to make Uganda and Africa a thorny ground for homosexuality. The hate campaign has also resulted into some people coming up with fake research claiming that gays are more promiscuous and more likely to catch HIV than heterosexual men; more likely to abuse drugs and suffer mental disorders and the life expectancy of a homosexual man is almost half that of heterosexuals. which are baseless
The problem withour leaders/ President is that they have refused to have dialogue with us,� “Instead of calling us to understand us, hear our views, hear our stories, they just push us away

Hope one day the world stops all the time focusing on us because of us beig homosexuals up to now some of us have failed to come to terms with the death of kato most especially we who were close to him his death has brought bad memories to some of us basing on what we have experienced because of being gays . he stood tall in the unwavering face of opposition as so many gays were disappearing under unclear circumstances
To some of us, we yarn for that day come when we will feel safe and live openly. being gay in Uganda has put me through a lot, with my family and some of my friends running away from the state. ,I also look for that day when the world focuses on other people not me because of being a gay

Of recent the church has taken the lead in the fearless battle against homosexuality and lesbianism. i happened attend pastor Males church the sermon of the day was focused on gays . the pastor preached anumber of things against homosexuality like its is unnatural.ungodly erodes the country much cherised culture and that it leads to destruction of morals and threatens human race and blamingtheir acts for being responsible for the misfortune of the country like famine ,drought and new disease because of God not being happy.He also told them that disheartening gays have now reached schools busy brain washing innocent children . These groups are being supporrted by the donors and western NGO under the disguise of sexual orientation as auniversal right.He told the congregation to use every means available to fight against these people either using force or peacefull methods as homosexuality has no place in Uganda. A fter the church service i happened to interact with anumber of people who had been attending the service and asked them one question which was What will you do to your son or daughter incase you find out he or she is agay or lesbians and these are the responses i got
1-Others told me it cant happen
2-Hand them to police for imprisonment
3-Disown them chase, them from the family,and if possible from the village
4-Others talked of killing them
member of gays and lesbians rights uganda

Translation of my story in Uganda: When I was there I walked with a friend with rasta-hair in een small street. We were stopped by the police who asked me if he was bothering me. When I denied the asked me for money because they did have any supper yet. Meanwhile we walked towards the crowded street and then they were gone. I told the story to a police-officer and he said it was know, but difficult to do something abt. it.

Life here is like living in hell even your own parents disown you no one wants to assoc ate with you they wish you death as you are disgrace to them the all village will hate you.you become the topic of the village some people begin to accuse youof allsorts of things if they see you talking with any youththey say you want to recruit him and what happens after talking with that person they make afollow up to ask him what you have been telling him. even some people tell you to leave the village otherwise they will kill you accusing you that you are the cause of the disasters that the village have been experiencing they talk of wanting to Lynch you burn you so you have to be so care full with the people you interact with they may even report you to police

Iwas arrested with some other members by police in 2007 for attending agay meeting following the local council chairman informing the police about our illegal meeting we were seriously beaten by police and detained we were requested to demonstrate how have sex with fellow men after releasing us some of us were hospitalised but we could do nothing to the police in fact they told us that they are just helping us otherwise the evidence they have against us is overwhelming for imprisonment the release came as ares ult of some members giving them bribe I even lost my job after the boss coming to know about it that am agay.The second time we were romancing with my partner then some one informed the police who raided my house took my photos as part of evidence imprisoned again i was seriously beaten by the police accusing me of recruiting children the community wanted to kill me requesting the police to leave me so that they can work on beat me mob justice later i had to bribe them to release me when the people hard that the police had released they decided to destroy my house but nothing has been done by the authorities and they have decided to chase me away from the village that am an evil and Satan Alot has ahppened to me but this is the price you pay for doing what you belive in or expressing your feeling

When hate hits the country were are we to have shelter
In Uganda due to widespread ignorance about sexual orientation the hatred of homosexuals has increased of recent now in most of the schools children ared being given ant gay sermons .the hate propaganda is so effective in that even in the rural areas people are beginning to express their hate for gays some even promising to killed,disown their children in case they become homosexuals. In one village person trying to explain to rural people about the gays having their rights was seriously beaten only to be saved by the local council accusing him of trying to recruit children int acts of homosexuality. Persecution of homosexual is so common, intimidation and this is being done by the police but nothing can be done some people have been lynched now the new bill has put gays at the lime light .so in Uganda you have to be so care full if people identify you your life is danger and in case anything happens to you the police will begin accusing you if people tell them that you are a homosexual do not expect much protection from the police avery good case study is that of Kato Uganda police accused him of wanting to force aboy into having sex with him
by muko gays and lesbiansrights uganda

http://www.change.org/petitions/to-the-ugandan-government---homophobia-anywhere-is-a-threat-to-freedom-everywhere

As the advocacy officer for a rights group called Sexual Minorities Uganda, David Kato was one of Uganda's most high profile gay rights activists. Just weeks after winning a court victory over a tabloid that called for homosexuals to be killed he has been bludgeoned to death in his home.

David was one of a team of activists who took action against Uganda's Rolling Stone tabloid newspaper which had been running a campaign both naming and showing people it claimed were homosexual. The pictures featured on the front page, with an accompanying headline - "hang them". David was one of those pictured.

In response to the murder of David Kato, the managing editor of the weekly Rolling Stone, said in a statement that he had "no regrets about the story. We were just exposing people who were doing wrong."

Homophobia has increased in Uganda recently because of church action but also because of political action. An anti-homosexual bill currently before parliament calls for gays and lesbians to be jailed for life. This bill was sponsored by Ndorwa West, MP David Bahati, a legislator from President Museveni's ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).

It is time for the Ugandan government to act. It is time for the government to publicly condemn the murder of David Kato, condemn homophobic publications such as the Rolling Stone, and to publicly condemn homophobia in Uganda. It is time for the Ugandan government to start educating Ugandans to stop homophobia. Please sign this petition to the Ugandan Government and to President Yoweri Museveni to end homophobia in Uganda.

""Homophobia is like racism and anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry in that it seeks to dehumanize a large group of people, to deny their humanity, their dignity and personhood" - Coretta Scott King

Homophobia anywhere, is a threat to freedom everywhere.

There is nothing to be ashamed of, God created us differently and we all ought to tolerate and respect each other so as to live in the community harmoniously. What surprises me most is the hypocrisy of our people. They would rather live in denial than face their challenges. It will take people like you and me for the future generations to live free of fear and intimidation.

I have always wondered why people out rightly condemned the gays and lesbians.My story is like this: We had planed to hold one of the most secret meeting on how we could silently practice our rights in a given village.But to our dismay,we couldn't tell how the security agencies came to realize about it. We were rounded but being late in the night we managed to escape from the trap. This has just happened just recently.As active members, we encourage others to join us in the fight of our fundamental rights