Join Ugandan LGBTQ+ people and a grassroots coalition of LGBTQ+ rights, health and asylum groups – including UK Alliance for Global Equality, UK Black Pride, ACT-UP London, Rainbow Migration, Peter Tatchell Foundation and STOPAIDS – for a protest against the Ugandan ‘Kill the Gays’ Bill tonight (Tuesday, April 25) from 5.30pm.
Organised with Convening for Equality Uganda and Uganda Key Population Consortium, the protest will start at Uganda House, the Ugandan High Commission, 58 – 59 Trafalgar Square London WC2N 5DX.
Uganda’s parliament passed the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, 2023 (AHB23) on March 21, and on April 20, President Museveni informed Parliament that it should make changes before he signs it. The Biden administration has called the legislation “one of the most extreme anti-LGBTQI+ laws in the world.”
The legislation stipulates the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality”, 20 years in prison for the “promotion of homosexuality”, 10 years in prison for “attempted homosexuality”, and six months in prison or a fine of $28,000 for failing to report someone who has violated any provision of the bill
LGBTQ+ Ugandan civil society groups have been calling for international allies to apply pressure through political, diplomatic, economic and public means on the Museveni Government, resulting in an Emergency Global Day of Action on April 25. Their demands can be found here
Clare Byarugaba, human rights activist at Chapter Four Uganda and co-organiser of Convening for Equality, said: “As a proud lesbian Ugandan woman…let me be clear that this bill is designed to eliminate people like me from my home country and it must be defeated…The solidarity shown by activists and community members worldwide…is essential in this fight. We must reiterate to Museveni that the world is watching and not stay silent as our human rights are trampled on.”
Abbey Kiwanuka, a Ugandan activist with of the Out & Proud African LGBTI group, said: “Politicians in Uganda scapegoat LGBTs and use homosexuality as a pretext to divert people from questioning their failed policies… Homosexuality is not the cause of people’s suffering. The problem is the rotten, corrupt system.”
Edwin Sesange of the African Equality Foundation, also from Uganda, added: “Uganda must respect human rights, uphold the values of the Commonwealth Charter and stop exercising impunity and immunity with its persecution of LGBTI people.”
Moud Goba, chair of the board of trustees of UK Black Pride, said: “Members of the UK LGBTQ+ community stand in solidarity with all those at risk of harm under this cruel bill…we refuse to let this attack on human rights go unchallenged and call on President Museveni to veto this bill.”
Peter Tatchell, Director of the Peter Tatchell Foundation, said: “The Uganda Bill would outlaw almost every aspect of LGBTQ+ existence, including LGBTQ+ identity, advocacy, funding and organisation. The bill violates Sections 2 and 4 of the Commonwealth Charter. It also breaches Article 21 of the Uganda constitution & Articles 2 and 3 of the African Charter of Human & People’s Rights – all of which guarantee equal treatment and prohibit discrimination.”
Protest against the ‘Kill the Gays’ Uganda Bill on Tuesday, April 25 from 5.30pm, starting at Uganda House, the Ugandan High Commission, 58 – 59 Trafalgar Square London WC2N 5DX.
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