Uganda Emergency fund

In March 2023, the Parliament of Uganda passed one of the harshest anti-LGBTQI+ laws in the world officially titled the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, but widely referred to as the “Kill the Gays” bill due to its imposition of the death penalty for certain homosexual acts and life imprisonment for others. This law has triggered a devastating wave of state-led and community-driven persecution of LGBTQI+ individuals across the country.

Since the passage of the bill, our organization has received and documented over 159 urgent protection and support requests from LGBTQI+ individuals facing the direct consequences of this legislation. These cases include:

• Arrests and detentions: Several individuals have been arbitrarily arrested under suspicion of same-sex relations or association with known LGBTQI+ spaces and organizations. Many report being detained without legal representation or access to family.

• Evictions and homelessness: LGBTQI+ individuals have been forcibly evicted from their homes by landlords fearing association with “criminals” under the new law. Some were removed violently by neighbors or local authorities, often without notice or recourse, leaving them homeless and vulnerable to further abuse.

• Physical assaults and mob violence: A significant number of cases involve survivors of mob attacks, beatings, and other forms of community violence. Many of these attacks are fueled by state rhetoric and local media campaigns inciting the public to report or target suspected LGBTQI+ persons.

• Sexual violence: Disturbingly, some individuals—especially transgender women and effeminate gay men—have reported cases of corrective rape, sexual assault during arrest, or violence in detention centers, often with no legal follow-up or accountability for the perpetrators.

As a direct result of these experiences, many victims have become completely cut off from access to essential health services, including HIV prevention, PrEP/PEP, mental health support, and gender-affirming care. Clinics and healthcare workers—especially those in rural or faith-based settings—now fear serving LGBTQI+ clients due to potential legal consequences or reputational harm.

In addition to physical and emotional trauma, the economic toll has been severe. The majority of those affected have lost their jobs or means of income, either through direct dismissal, forced displacement, or fear of being outed in the workplace. Employers, community cooperatives, and service providers are increasingly refusing to associate with individuals believed to be part of the LGBTQI+ community, fueled by hate campaigns and social media doxxing.

The current environment of fear and isolation has created a humanitarian emergency. Survivors are in urgent need of:

• Safe shelter and temporary relocation

• Access to medical treatment, mental health care, and legal aid

• Emergency food support and hygiene essentials

• Economic empowerment and re-skilling support

• Psychosocial services for trauma recovery and long-term wellbeing

The Anti-Homosexuality Act has institutionalized hate and empowered both state and non-state actors to carry out systematic violations of LGBTQI+ rights with impunity. We call upon the international community, donors, and allies to act urgently in responding to this crisis and standing in solidarity with those whose lives are now at grave risk.

Kind Reagrds, Programs Leader.