Homophobia Crisis knocking on Uganda’s Doorstep

Uganda, the Pearl of Africa, known for its vast variety of agricultural products, seems to be held back by its regressing society. While it is ranked 8th in most rapidly developing countries among the 47 Sub-Saharan African countries, it severely lacks social reform in comparison to Western progressive policies (Freedom). With the plausible reintroduction of the Anti-Homosexual Act, first implemented in 2015, Uganda’s LGBTQ+ community has every right to worry for their lives (Ruduša). The initiation of this act in 2015 was only the beginning of backlash that the LGBTQ+ community would face from society, beyond the nullification of the act in 2016 (Clark). This act entailed the death penalty for any person who was found guilty of participating in same-sex consensual acts or any who openly advocated for the homosexual community and their rights (Clark). With Uganda’s large population of over 45.5 million people, the implication of this act affects millions.

Not to mention that the establishment of this act was heavily inspired by the beliefs of two conservative US evangelists (Akumu). Due to the US’s progressive policies which protect the rights of LGBTQ+ people, two white American evangelists decided to venture towards Uganda to spread homophobic hate speech in churches, knowing they would be prevented from doing so in America. While presenting themselves as experts on the matter of homosexuality they made false reports, which include the comparison of homosexuality to pedophelia, only furthering the negative sitgma that surrounds the LGBTQ+ community (Gettleman). Accompanied by Uganda’s already religion centered policies, the evangelists inspired--or more accurately--forced their conservative influence on the matter of same-sex relations. Furthermore, the white superiority complex they so proudly used to their advantage made it particularly difficult to minimize their influence. While these Americans acknowledge their influence in the advocacy for the Anti-Homosexual Act, when met with criticism they claim to be oblivious to the lengths that legislation would go regarding the death penalty. These Americans are said to have “started a fire they cannot quench” as the LGBTQ+ community received more backlash than ever. Hate crimes ranged from death threats drawn onto people's homes to “correctional rape” (Gettleman). Whatever it may be people faced constant harassment upon the initial introduction of the act, far beyond the hands of Ugandan government. If that wasn’t bad enough, now talk of re-visiting the act has the Ugandan LGBTQ+ community in a frenzy.



Following a meeting with Parliament, officials discussed the possibility of introducing a new law “similar” to the Anti-Homosexual Act, which some could argue is essentially a copy-and-paste of the act that was formerly nullified. With officials frowning upon any form of support or “promotion” of the LGBTQ+ community, a serious lack in attempts towards the reparation of this crisis are evident. Because this act promotes violence based on homophobia, as seen in the inceptive establishment of the act, that violence is then reflected in the people’s treatment of those who identify with the LGBTQ+ community in any way. Hate crime rates and general treatment of homosexuals is drastically more inhumane as they are viewed as malevolent and considered sinners in a deeply Christian-rooted country (Ruduša). Previous to the introduction of the Anti-Homosexual Act in 2015 gay men and lesbians stated they could publicly advocate for their rights and hold conferences but with the introduction of the act they are crawling back undercover, due to fear of the act encouraging lynching as mobs are already violent as it is. An unfortunate prime instance of this violence was seen just as recently as October of 2019, in synchronicity with the announcement of the plausible renewement of the Anti-Homosexual Act. Brian Wasswa, non-binary LGBTQ+ community advocator, was killed in his own home (Kampala). Upon even a threat of the revival of the Anti-Homosexual Bill, Uganda experienced a rise in homophobic rhetoric displayed in the following few weeks. The Anti-Homosexuality Act poses not only a governmental threat but more importantly an infringement on the human rights of those who identify with the LGBTQ+ community. The lack of regard towards the death of a seemingly innocent man or woman, let alone the conversations being had in support of the re-introduction of the Anti-Homosexual Act emphasizes the significant lack of effort to aid in repairing the losses this act has brought to Uganda’s doorstep. Now it is up to Uganda whether they will continue to make a downward spiral in terms of social reform or develop more progressive policies in light of their western allies.

Work Cited

Akumu, Patience. “The Anti-Gay Gospel.” New International, June 2015, go.gale.com/ps/retrieve.do?tabID=Magazines&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchResultsType=MultiTab&searchType=BasicSearchForm¤tPosition=1&docId=GALE%7CA415562404&docType=Article&sort=Relevance&contentSegment=ZGIC&prodId=GIC&contentSet=GALE%7CA415562404&searchId=R1&userGroupName=los42754&inPS=true.

Clark, Msia. “Anti-Homosexuality Bill Could Mean a Death Sentence for LGBT People in Uganda.” Amnesty International USA, 12 Jan. 2010, www.amnestyusa.org/anti-homosexuality-bill-could-mean-a-death-sentence-for-lgbt-people-in-uganda/.

Gettleman, Jeffrey. “Americans' Role Seen in Uganda Anti-Gay Push.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 4 Jan. 2010, www.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/world/africa/04uganda.html.

Kampala. “Uganda: Brutal Killing of Gay Activist.” Human Rights Watch, 16 Oct. 2019, www.hrw.org/news/2019/10/15/uganda-brutal-killing-gay-activist.

Ruduša, Daina. “Uganda Threatens To Re-Introduce ‘Anti-Homosexuality Act.’” Global LGBT Human Rights, 14 Oct. 2019, outrightinternational.org/content/uganda-plans-re-introduce-anti-homosexuality-act.