This campaign targets the country’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and plus (LGBTQ+) community.
The condemnation comes two years after the controversial Anti-Homosexuality Act came into force.
According to HRW, the law has not only criminalised same-sex relationships but has also fostered a climate of fear and impunity, emboldening both state actors and members of the public to harass and abuse LGBTQ+ individuals, their families, and human rights defenders.
“The law intensified pre-existing criminalisation of same-sex relations and took Uganda into far more dangerous territory,” said Oryem Nyeko, Senior Researcher at Human Rights Watch Uganda. “We’ve documented numerous cases of violence, forced evictions, blackmail, and harassment. The situation is dire.”
First introduced in Parliament in 2023 and signed into law amidst international criticism, the Act sparked a wave of hostile rhetoric, much of it fuelled by public figures and lawmakers. Nyeko says this atmosphere made the already precarious situation for LGBTQ+ Ugandans significantly worse.
“We saw a surge of inflammatory statements in the media and Parliament. This legitimised discrimination and gave a green light to acts of brutality against people simply because of their identity,” he said.
In its latest findings, HRW reports a disturbing range of human rights abuses; LGBTQ+ individuals being beaten, arrested, or evicted from their homes; families disowning relatives; and even police officers extorting citizens by threatening prosecution under the law.
“Many victims are too afraid to report what’s happening because they fear further victimisation,” Nyeko added. “People are scared to express who they are. It’s become far too dangerous.”
According to Nyeko, the law has also fuelled dangerous myths and disinformation, claims that LGBTQ+ people are a threat to society, or that they are ‘recruiting’ others into homosexuality, none of which are backed by evidence.
“These falsehoods have no basis in fact but have been used to justify discriminatory legislation. We must challenge this narrative and recognise the dignity of all Individuals,” he said.
HRW is calling on the Ugandan government to immediately repeal the Anti-Homosexuality Act, end the crackdown on LGBTQ+ people, and enact laws that protect against discrimination and uphold the rights of all citizens.
“This law has caused immense harm,” Nyeko concluded. “It’s time for Uganda to move towards a future grounded in equality, dignity, and justice for all.”
--ChannelAfrica--
