Issue 20 - In Conversation with .. 9!

ON UGANDA’S ANTI-LGBTQIA+-LAWS
My name is Edward Mutebi, and I'm the
founding director of “Let’s Walk Uganda'', an
LGBTQIA+ human rights organisation established
in Uganda. I'm currently a resident of Germany,
where I moved in 2018 to seek asylum after
experiencing a series of persecutions and threats
to my life during my tenure as an executive
director. At the moment, I am in Nairobi, Kenya,
working on my master's degree thesis.
My activism is, of course, driven by the numerous
challenges I faced as an individual while I was
still living in Uganda. It is motivated by the desire
to promote love and witness the flourishing of
others' lives without them being persecuted solely
due to their sexuality.
Doing this work must be incredibly dangerous.
How did you find the bravery to become an
activist and advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights in Uganda?
I suppose the main thing leading me
to start “Let’s Walk Uganda” was the personal
persecution I endured. In 2014, I was arrested
for the first time due to my sexuality and was
blackmailed and detained for over 14 days.
During my time in police custody, I was denied
most of my rights. I was subjected to torture, and
my mother was extorted; they forced her to
provide money for my release.
This occurred when the initial anti-homosexuality
law was enacted in 2013, which was later
repealed in 2014. For the record, Uganda has
passed two anti-homosexuality laws. The first was
in 2013, and the most recent is the current one.
While I eventually regained my freedom, there
were no queer organisations I could reach out to
for help during my detainment. I had no
resources at my disposal.
By that time, unemployment and homelessness
were rampant among the LGBTQIA+ community
in Uganda. Additionally, accessing medical
services was a struggle.
We needed to establish an institution, which is
why I created a grassroots organisation aimed
at assisting the community with these issues.
I shouldn't have to witness such atrocities any
longer, and I am determined to spare others from
enduring the hardships I faced while in custody.
I am resolute in preventing anyone else from
being arrested, tortured, and extorted. Countries
like Kenya and Ghana are also deliberating
similar laws to those in Uganda. We find
ourselves amidst a wave of homophobia, making
it a challenging period to be an activist amidst
such draconian legislation.
Can you safely pursue your work, or do you
constantly have to look over your shoulder?
I constantly find myself looking over my shoulder.
The law in Uganda, signed by the country's
president, criminalises individuals like me, as well
as organisations and even doctors who offer
support to the LGBTQIA+ community. Doctors now
have to worry because the law asks them to
report LGBTQIA+ people to the authorities. Being
arrested and subjected to lengthy imprisonment
has become a real possibility.
Kenya, following Uganda's lead, has become an
unsafe haven for LGBTQIA+ refugees. Despite
Kenya's presence of homophobia and persecution
against LGBTQIA+ individuals, it used to provide
refuge for those seeking asylum based on their
sexuality.
This is no longer the case, and we're witnessing
instances where LGBTQIA+ refugees or asylum
seekers who arrived in Kenya six, seven, or eight
years ago are still in limbo, awaiting acceptance.
Tragically, activists have lost their lives in both
Kenya and Uganda.
The prevailing circumstances have created a
challenging environment for LGBTQIA+ activists
and human rights defenders to operate in. Recent
developments include the closure of the United
Nations Human Rights office in Uganda, leaving
the government with an unchecked ability to
violate human rights.
"I AM RESOLUTE IN
PREVENTING ANYONE
ELSE FROM BEING
ARRESTED, TORTURED,
AND EXTORTED."
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