I
Picture courtesy of GalaUganda.org
magine living in a world where
you can’t be yourself. Imagine a
world even where you can’t
discuss your love life or your
sexuality without the
repercussion of imprisonment or
possible death. This world does exist.
Recently, THEGAYUK have been in contact with a brave gay
Ugandan man, who doesn’t want to be identified due to the
possibility of harm to himself and his family. THEGAYUK asked
him a series of questions on what it was, and is like now, in
Uganda for the gay community there. For the purposes of
safety and to protect his identity, his name has been omitted.
As of 24th February 2014, Ugandan President Yoweri
Museveni signed into law the Ugandan Anti-Homosexual
Act 2014. This act dictated that anyone found guilty of
having any gay relations would be sentenced to life
imprisonment. Many countries of the world, including the
UK and the US, have strongly opposed this bill. Some
newspapers have called it the ‘Kill the Gays’ bill, as early
sections of the bill called for the death penalty to be used,
which was later promised to be dropped in favour for life
imprisonment, but that didn’t derail this from becoming
Ugandan Law. Alex Onzima, the State Minister for Local
Government described, “Homosexuality is worse than a
malignant cancer. It is worse than HIV/AIDS. It is worse
than terrorism, which we are fighting left and right. Because
it will wipe out the whole of humanity so what will you be
left with?” With the highest levels of Government supporting
this barbaric bill, how do the gay people of Uganda feel
about this?
To be honest, when I was growing up we had sex with other
boys but it was just like a game, thinking we are playing.
People never used to talk about it much.
What was life like in Uganda, growing up and what
was the view of homosexuality from the people
where you lived?
Did you keep your sexuality a secret or did some
close people know?
Only my close