A global LGBTQ+ asylum charity, Rainbow Railroad, has reported a significant increase in requests for help from LGBTQ+ individuals in Uganda seeking to escape the country. The spike in requests is attributed to the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, which further criminalizes same-sex activity and introduces the crime of “aggravated homosexuality,” carrying a death sentence. The organization has received over 468 requests for assistance from LGBTQ+ Ugandans in 2023, a sharp increase from previous years.
Trans and Non-Binary Individuals Among Most Vulnerable
According to Kimahli Powell, executive director of Rainbow Railroad, 56% of those seeking assistance are trans or non-binary, highlighting a larger backlash and targeting of trans individuals by the anti-gender movement. Powell expressed deep concern for the vulnerability of trans people who would face severe persecution if the bill becomes law, urging governments worldwide to offer support to LGBTQ+ Ugandans forced to flee.
Addressing the Looming Humanitarian Crisis
As the Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Bill threatens to create a humanitarian crisis, Powell calls for proactive response plans from governments and cooperation with organizations like Rainbow Railroad. Despite many governments, including the UK and US, speaking against the bill, their own restrictive asylum policies complicate matters for those seeking refuge. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) predicts the number of forcibly displaced people will rise to 110 million by the end of this year, demanding urgent action from governments worldwide.
Uganda’s Long-standing Hostility Toward LGBTQ+ Community
Uganda has been notorious for its hostility toward the LGBTQ+ community, with homosexuality already criminalized in the country. The government faced international condemnation for introducing the Anti-Homosexuality Bill in March 2023, a new version of the 2014 law known as the ‘Kill the Gays’ bill. Activists, like Frank Mugisha, executive director of Sexual Minorities Uganda, warn that the legislation could trigger a “genocide” and cause significant fear within the LGBTQ+ community.
