As Uganda’s parliament passed the Anti-Homosexuality Bill in March, the country’s LGBTQ+ community is now faced with the prospect of having to identify with a criminalized label. If signed into law, the bill could impose a prison sentence of up to 20 years for those found guilty of being LGBTQ+. The legislation also includes a crime of “aggravated homosexuality,” which lists rape, child sexual abuse, and incest, and is punishable by death.
For Uganda’s LGBTQ+ community, this is a terrifying moment. The Kill the Gays bill, or the Anti-Homosexuality Act of 2014, previously contained a clause that called for the death penalty, which was later modified to a life sentence. The law was enacted but was later nullified by the courts for procedural reasons. Yet, even before the new bill becomes law, there are reports of violence against the LGBTQ+ community.
DeLovie Kwagala, a Ugandan photojournalist based in South Africa, has joined forces with activists and allies to create a GoFundMe campaign that aims to assist the queer community in surviving during these tumultuous times. The fundraiser has already raised over £19,000 to provide financial aid to LGBTQ+ people who may need to relocate, seek emergency accommodation, and access legal and medical support, as well as transportation costs for those fleeing Uganda.
DeLovie and their team have already received messages from queer Ugandans asking for assistance with medication, food, and mental health services after the bill’s passage. For them, being Black and queer is a “death sentence,” and visibility without protection can be dangerous.
The crowdfunding campaign seeks to provide direct assistance to those who need it most. However, the number of cases is high, and the capacity to support all needs that are coming in is limited. Although DeLovie and their loved ones have already been paying a personal price for their activism, they remain dedicated to fighting for their community.
The bill’s passing is just the latest chapter in Uganda’s ongoing attacks on LGBTQ+ rights. For Uganda’s LGBTQ+ community, it is yet another example of their community being under siege. The bill also exacerbates the crisis of housing, medication, and mental health that the LGBTQ+ community is facing in the country.
DeLovie and other activists are now appealing to queer people across the globe to donate to their fundraiser and support Uganda’s LGBTQ+ community. This is not just a Ugandan queer issue; it is a human rights crisis that requires solidarity and the amplification of voices from all over the world.