Uganda has long been known for its harsh stance against the LGBTQ+ community. Recently, the country’s parliament introduced the Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2023, which seeks to further criminalize same-sex conduct, including the introduction of the death penalty for same-sex relations. This bill is not the first attempt by parliament to recriminalize homosexuality since the 2014 Anti-Homosexuality Act was struck down, as evidenced by the passing of the Sexual Offenses Bill in 2021.
These attempts to further criminalize same-sex conduct have resulted in an increase in arbitrary arrests, police abuse and extortion, loss of employment, evictions and homelessness, and scores of people fleeing the country. The Human Rights Awareness and Promotion Forum (HRAPF), an LGBT and sex-worker-rights group, has also faced scrutiny and investigation, with accusations that the group facilitated the passing of a district bylaw aimed at protecting key populations, including gender and sexual minorities, from HIV and tuberculosis.
The situation has been exacerbated by senior government officials, with the deputy commander of land forces in the Ugandan military calling for the exclusion of gay people from receiving health services and the state minister for sports calling for the introduction of the death penalty for same-sex conduct. The targeting of a vulnerable minority and distracting attention from a broader crackdown on rights groups is an all too familiar tactic employed by the Ugandan government.
The continued criminalization of same-sex conduct and crackdowns on sexual minorities in Uganda threatens the basic human rights of all individuals. Civil society groups in Uganda and the international community should be alarmed by this signal of increased repression and the stifling of opposition voices and civil society groups across the board. It is imperative that we stand together in support of the LGBTQ+ community and work towards ensuring that their basic human rights are protected.
This latest bill is part of a broader crackdown on civil society groups in Uganda, with authorities targeting human rights organizations that work to support LGBT and sex-worker rights. The Ugandan government’s actions should be a cause for concern among civil society groups in the country and internationally, as it signals increased repression and the stifling of opposition voices and civil society groups across the board.
