UGANDA: Persecution of homosexuality (23 images)

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  • 27 february 2010 - Kampala, Uganda - Portrait of a closeted homosexual in Uganda. David Bahati's Anti-Homosexuality Bill was tabled in Ugandan Parliament on October 2009, and is currently before the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament.The bill proposes that a new offence be created in Uganda named "aggravated homosexuality" which would be punishable as a capital offence. The proposals included plans to introduce the death penalty for homosexuals who practiced gay sex with people under 18, with disabled people, when the accused party is HIV-positive, or for those previously convicted of homosexuality-related offences. Homosexual acts are already illegal in Uganda and punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Photo credit: Benedicte Desrus

  • February 23, 2011 - Kampala, Uganda - Giles Muhame, the managing editor of the Ugandan newspaper Rolling Stone, points to the the face of David Kato, a prominent ugandan gay rights campaigner. Last month David Kato was beaten to death in his home near Kampala only weeks after winning a lawsuit against the Ugandan newspaper Rolling Stone. In october 2010, the tabloid published the names, adresses and photographs of a dozen public figures, including Kato, who it believed to be gay, under the heading "Hang Them". Uganda's gay population now face renewed suppression in a country where homosexual acts already carry a punishment of 14 year's jail. Some religious and political leaders are pushing for the death penalty for people who have gay sex with disabled people, under-18s, or while being HIV positive. David Bahati's Anti-Homosexuality Bill was tabled in Ugandan Parliament on October 2009, and is currently before the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament. Photo credit: Benedicte Desrus

  • February 24, 2011 - Kampala, Uganda - Lydia Molumba, David Kato's mum at her house in Nagojje few weeks after the burrial of her son. David Kato Kisule was a prominent Ugandan LGBT rights activist for Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG). He was murdered in january 2011, shortly after winning a lawsuit against the Ugandan newspaper Rolling Stone which had published his name and photograph identifying him as gay and calling for him to be executed. Uganda's gay population now face renewed suppression in a country where homosexual acts already carry a punishment of 14 year's jail. Some religious and political leaders are pushing for the death penalty for people who have gay sex with disabled people, under-18s, or while being HIV positive. David Bahati's Anti-Homosexuality Bill was tabled in Ugandan Parliament on October 2009, and is currently before the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament. Photo credit: Benedicte Desrus

  • 17 February 2010 - Kampala, Uganda - An Ugandan worshipper wears a banner with homophobic message:" homosexual is evil" during an anti-gay rally held by religious and political leaders who are fighting homosexuality at Christianity Focus Centre in Kampala's biggest slum, Kisenyi. David Bahati's Anti-Homosexuality Bill was tabled in Ugandan Parliament on October 2009, and is currently before the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament. The bill proposes that a new offence be created in Uganda named "aggravated homosexuality" which would be punishable as a capital offence. The proposals included plans to introduce the death penalty for homosexuals who practiced gay sex with people under 18, with disabled people, when the accused party is HIV-positive, or for those previously convicted of homosexuality-related offences. Homosexual acts are already illegal in Uganda and punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

  • 17 February 2010 - Kampala, Uganda - David Bahati at an Anti-Gay rally at Christianity Focus Centre in Mengo Kisenyi held by religious and political leaders who are fighting homosexuality. David Bahati, Ugandan politician, member of the ruling National Resistance Movement and MP in the Ugandan parliament, came to international attention in October 2009 after introducing the Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Bill as a Private Member's Bill on 13 October proposing that a new offence be created in Uganda named "aggravated homosexuality" which would be punishable as a capital offence. The proposals included plans to introduce the death penalty for homosexuals who practiced gay sex with people under 18, with disabled people, when the accused party is HIV-positive. or for those previously convicted of homosexuality-related offences. The bill also includes provisions for Ugandans who engage in same-sex sexual relations outside of Uganda, asserting that they may be extradited for punishment back to Uganda, and includes penalties for individuals, companies, media organisations, or non-governmental organisations that support LGBT rights. Homosexuality is currently illegal in Uganda--as it is in many sub-Saharan African countries--punishable by incarceration in prison for up to 14 years. The proposed legislation in Uganda, however, has been noted by several news agencies to be heavily influenced by American evangelical Christians. Photo credit: Benedicte Desrus / Sipa Press

  • 15 february 2010 - Jinja, Uganda - Demonstrators carry anti-gay banners during a rally in the industrial city of Jinja, 72 km (43 miles) east of the capital Kampala. David Bahati proposed a bill including the death penalty for some acts. Photo credit: Benedicte Desrus / Sipa Press

  • 17 February 2010 - Kampala, Uganda - Ugandan worshippers cry after Ugandan Pastor Martin Ssempa screens what he called "gay porn" to support the Anti-gay bill during an Anti-Gay rally at Christianity Focus Centre in Mengo Kisenyi held by religious and political leaders who are fighting homosexuality. David Bahati, Ugandan politician, member of the ruling National Resistance Movement and MP in the Ugandan parliament, came to international attention in October 2009 after introducing the Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Bill as a Private Member's Bill on 13 October proposing that a new offence be created in Uganda named "aggravated homosexuality" which would be punishable as a capital offence. The proposals included plans to introduce the death penalty for homosexuals who practiced gay sex with people under 18, with disabled people, when the accused party is HIV-positive. or for those previously convicted of homosexuality-related offences. The bill also includes provisions for Ugandans who engage in same-sex sexual relations outside of Uganda, asserting that they may be extradited for punishment back to Uganda, and includes penalties for individuals, companies, media organisations, or non-governmental organisations that support LGBT rights. Homosexuality is currently illegal in Uganda--as it is in many sub-Saharan African countries--punishable by incarceration in prison for up to 14 years. The proposed legislation in Uganda, however, has been noted by several news agencies to be heavily influenced by American evangelical Christians. Photo credit: Benedicte Desrus / Sipa Press

  • 15 february 2010 - Jinja, Uganda, East Africa - An Ugandan religious leader reads from the Bible during an anti-gay rally in Jinja. Some religious and political leaders are pushing for the death penalty for people who have gay sex with disabled people, under-18s, or while being HIV positive. They have garnered support for the anti-homosexuality bill by holding numerous and hateful anti-gay rallies. Each day that no decisive action is taken to throw out the bill, it encourages homophobia to spread and allow political and religious leaders to scapegoat the LGBT community for society's ills and their own personal gain.

  • 5 march 2010 - Kampala, Uganda - A homosexual witch doctor performs a ceremony with friends to prevent the passing of an anti-homosexuality bill in the Uganda parliament. David Bahati's Anti-Homosexuality Bill was tabled in Ugandan Parliament on October 2009, and is currently before the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament. The bill proposes the death penalty for homosexuals, imprisonment for heterosexuals who don't turn gays over to the police and the abolition of all organizations that support gay rights. Homosexual acts are already illegal in Uganda and punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Photo credit: Benedicte Desrus

  • March 7, 2010 - Kampala, Uganda - Ugandan Pentecostal Pastor Solomon Male gives a speech during an anti-gay rally organised by the Muslims community in Mbarara, Uganda. Male is part of the National Coalition against Homosexuality and Sexual Abuse in Uganda. He claims he was the first person in the country to come out openly against gays. Male believes that no one is born gay and that through counselling they can be cured of this "affliction". David Bahati's Anti-Homosexuality Bill was tabled in Ugandan Parliament on October 2009, and is currently before the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament.The bill proposes that a new offence be created in Uganda named "aggravated homosexuality" which would be punishable as a capital offence. The proposals included plans to introduce the death penalty for homosexuals who practiced gay sex with people under 18, with disabled people, when the accused party is HIV-positive, or for those previously convicted of homosexuality-related offences. Homosexual acts are already illegal in Uganda and punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Photo credit: Benedicte Desrus

  • February 22, 2011 - Kampala, Uganda - Notes in a registration book showing people who attended "Sodomy case" counselling at the office of Ugandan Pentecostal Pastor Solomon Male. Male is part of the National Coalition against Homosexuality and Sexual Abuse in Uganda. He claims he was the first person in the country to come out openly against gays. Male believes that no one is born gay and that through counselling they can be cured of this "affliction". David Bahati's Anti-Homosexuality Bill was tabled in Ugandan Parliament on October 2009, and is currently before the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament.The bill proposes that a new offence be created in Uganda named "aggravated homosexuality" which would be punishable as a capital offence. The proposals included plans to introduce the death penalty for homosexuals who practiced gay sex with people under 18, with disabled people, when the accused party is HIV-positive, or for those previously convicted of homosexuality-related offences. Homosexual acts are already illegal in Uganda and punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Photo credit: Benedicte Desrus

  • 14 february 2010 - Kampala, Uganda - Ugandans at a bar in Kampala which allows homosexuals. The bar is one of the few bars in town qualified as "Safe Zone" by the gay community. David Bahati's Anti-Homosexuality Bill was tabled in Ugandan Parliament on October 2009, and is currently before the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament. The bill proposes the death penalty for homosexuals, imprisonment for heterosexuals who don't turn gays over to the police and the abolition of all organizations that support gay rights. Homosexual acts are already illegal in Uganda and punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Photo credit: Benedicte Desrus

  • 16 february 2010 - Kampala, Uganda - Ugandan Pastor Martin Ssempa warns press against what he calls the danger of homosexuality at a press conference in Kampala. He recently mades news for planning on February 17th what he called a "million man march" in Uganda in support of the anti-homosexuality bill. While public support for the bill remains strong, the Ugandan government is concerned by international pressure and outrage over a proposed bill that would further criminalize homosexuality in the country, including adding life in prison and death sentences to the punishments. Photo credit: Benedicte Desrus / Sipa Press

  • 17 February 2010 - Kampala, Uganda - Ugandan worshippers cry after Ugandan Pastor Martin Ssempa screens what he called "gay porn" to support the Anti-gay bill during an Anti-Gay rally at Christianity Focus Centre in Mengo Kisenyi held by religious and political leaders who are fighting homosexuality. David Bahati, Ugandan politician, member of the ruling National Resistance Movement and MP in the Ugandan parliament, came to international attention in October 2009 after introducing the Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Bill as a Private Member's Bill on 13 October proposing that a new offence be created in Uganda named "aggravated homosexuality" which would be punishable as a capital offence. The proposals included plans to introduce the death penalty for homosexuals who practiced gay sex with people under 18, with disabled people, when the accused party is HIV-positive. or for those previously convicted of homosexuality-related offences. The bill also includes provisions for Ugandans who engage in same-sex sexual relations outside of Uganda, asserting that they may be extradited for punishment back to Uganda, and includes penalties for individuals, companies, media organisations, or non-governmental organisations that support LGBT rights. Homosexuality is currently illegal in Uganda--as it is in many sub-Saharan African countries--punishable by incarceration in prison for up to 14 years. The proposed legislation in Uganda, however, has been noted by several news agencies to be heavily influenced by American evangelical Christians. Photo credit: Benedicte Desrus / Sipa Press

  • 14 february 2010 - Kampala, Uganda - Ugandans at a bar in Kampala which allows homosexuals. The bar is one of the few bars in town qualified as "Safe Zone" by the gay community. David Bahati's Anti-Homosexuality Bill was tabled in Ugandan Parliament on October 2009, and is currently before the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament. The bill proposes the death penalty for homosexuals, imprisonment for heterosexuals who don't turn gays over to the police and the abolition of all organizations that support gay rights. Homosexual acts are already illegal in Uganda and punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Photo credit: Benedicte Desrus

  • 14 february 2010 - Kampala, Uganda - Ugandan heterosexuals and homosexuals at a bar in Kampala which allows homosexuals. The bar is one of the few bars qualified as "Safe Zone" by the gay community. David Bahati's Anti-Homosexuality Bill was tabled in Ugandan Parliament on October 14, 2009, and is currently before the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament. The bill proposes the death penalty for homosexuals, imprisonment for heterosexuals who don't turn gays over to the police and the abolition of all organizations that support gay rights. Homosexual acts are already illegal in Uganda and punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Photo credit: Benedicte Desrus / Sipa Press

  • February 16, 2011 - Kampala, Uganda - Homosexual sexworkers share a small room in a slum in Kampala. Many of them were forced to flee their house when their family found out their sexual orientation. Without family support they have been forced to work as sexworkers to survive. They say that many of their clients are straight men or women with families. A recent Anti-Homosexuality Bill has made their lives increasingly dangerous. David Bahati's Anti-Homosexuality Bill was tabled in Ugandan Parliament on October 2009, and is currently before the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament.The bill proposes that a new offence be created in Uganda named "aggravated homosexuality" which would be punishable as a capital offence. The proposals included plans to introduce the death penalty for homosexuals who practiced gay sex with people under 18, with disabled people, when the accused party is HIV-positive, or for those previously convicted of homosexuality-related offences. Homosexual acts are already illegal in Uganda and punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Photo credit: Benedicte Desrus

  • 5 march 2010 - Kampala, Uganda - Portrait of a "closeted homosexual" in Uganda. David Bahati's Anti-Homosexuality Bill was tabled in Ugandan Parliament on October 2009, and is currently before the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament. The bill proposes the death penalty for homosexuals, imprisonment for heterosexuals who don't turn gays over to the police and the abolition of all organizations that support gay rights. Homosexual acts are already illegal in Uganda and punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Photo credit: Benedicte Desrus

  • february 25, 2011 - Kampala, Uganda - Grace and Deborah, both 25 year old, met in Kampala 5 years ago. Today they live in a shack in one of the slums of the capital. "In public we never show we are together". No signs of affection among others, hardly a glance to each other. Their families are not aware they are together. "But they suspect it", says Deborah. To avoid persecution, Deborah chose to leave her "fiancee" for more than a year. She settled in with a boy from her village.  But once pregnant, she ran away. Today she brings up her 5 months old son Ryan with Grace. "But we will never be able to tell him the truth", says Grace. "It's too dangerous". A recent Anti-Homosexuality Bill has made their lives increasingly dangerous. David Bahati's Anti-Homosexuality Bill was tabled in Ugandan Parliament on October 2009, and is currently before the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament.The bill proposes that a new offence be created in Uganda named "aggravated homosexuality" which would be punishable as a capital offence. The proposals included plans to introduce the death penalty for homosexuals who practiced gay sex with people under 18, with disabled people, when the accused party is HIV-positive, or for those previously convicted of homosexuality-related offences. Homosexual acts are already illegal in Uganda and punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Photo credit: Benedicte Desrus

  • 24 february 2010 - Kampala, Uganda - Some local newspapers make a habit of outing homosexuals against their will. The Mirror, now defunct, was one such example. This article comes from 2005. Photo credit: Benedicte Desrus / Sipa press

  • 27 february 2010 - Kampala, Uganda - Auf Usaam Mukwaya is a 26 years old out gay man in Uganda. He has been involved in gay rights activism in Uganda. Consequent to that, he was arrested and jailed a couple of times, and has been having problems with his neighborhood since he was outed in one of the local papers, and his face was shown on television. He stopped feeling safe in his family home and he had to fled to a new neighborhood. David Bahati's Anti-Homosexuality Bill was tabled in Ugandan Parliament on October 2009, and is currently before the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament. The bill proposes the death penalty for homosexuals, imprisonment for heterosexuals who don't turn gays over to the police and the abolition of all organizations that support gay rights. Homosexual acts are already illegal in Uganda and punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Photo credit: Benedicte Desrus

  • 7 march 2010 - Kampala, Uganda - Auf Usaam Mukwaya visits his mother in the slum where he grew up. Since he was outed in one of the local papers, and his face was shown on television he had to move out. David Bahati's Anti-Homosexuality Bill was tabled in Ugandan Parliament on October 2009, and is currently before the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament.The bill proposes that a new offence be created in Uganda named "aggravated homosexuality" which would be punishable as a capital offence. The proposals included plans to introduce the death penalty for homosexuals who practiced gay sex with people under 18, with disabled people, when the accused party is HIV-positive, or for those previously convicted of homosexuality-related offences. Homosexual acts are already illegal in Uganda and punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Photo credit: Benedicte Desrus

  • 4 march 2010 - Kampala, Uganda, East Africa - Auf Usaam Mukwaya, a 26 year old gay man and a friend participate in a ritual with a homosexual witch-doctor to prevent the passing of an anti-homosexuality bill in the Uganda parliament. If the draconian law is passed many in the gay community fear their lives will become unlivable, and may even be killed. David Bahati's Anti-Homosexuality Bill was tabled in Ugandan Parliament on October 2009. The bill proposes that a new offense be created in Uganda named "aggravated homosexuality" which would be punishable as a capital offense. The proposals included plans to introduce the death penalty for homosexuals who practiced gay sex with people under 18, with disabled people, when the accused party is HIV-positive, or for those previously convicted of homosexuality-related offenses. Homosexual acts are already illegal in Uganda and punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

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