In Uganda, the passing of one of the world’s toughest anti-gay laws by the government has resulted in a wave of abuse against LGBTQ individuals, with most of the abuses being carried out by private individuals, according to rights groups on Thursday.
The Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA) was enacted in May and includes the death penalty for certain same-sex acts. So far, at least six people have been charged under the law, including two individuals accused of “aggravated homosexuality,” which is a capital offense.
A report produced by a committee of the Convening for Equality (CFE) coalition stated that the primary perpetrators of human rights abuses against the LGBTQ community this year have been private individuals. The report highlights how the law, along with the prevalent homophobic rhetoric leading up to its passage, has radicalized the public against LGBTQ individuals.
According to the report, mob-aided arrests have become increasingly common, as the AHA has singled out LGBTIQ+ individuals as suspicious, thereby prompting the public to take on the role of enforcing a witch hunt.
Research conducted between January 1 and August 31 has documented 306 rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity, with state actors being responsible for 25 of these cases. In comparison, previous reports from 2020 and 2021 found that state actors were accountable for nearly 70% of documented rights violations during those years. However, the report did not provide comparative figures for 2022.
Ugandan Information Minister Chris Baryomunsi was not available for comment.
The report also revealed that the police conducted forced anal examinations on individuals in custody to gather supposed “evidence” of homosexuality, with 18 instances documented. One survivor quoted in the report described the experience of surviving a forced anal examination as something that deeply affects a person forever.
Police spokesman Fred Enanga stated that he had not yet read the report and could not comment on it. The report cautioned that its statistics may not capture the full extent of rights violations due to the challenges LGBTQ individuals face in reporting such incidents.
The implementation of the anti-gay law and the resulting climate of fear and intimidation have also contributed to an increase in mental health issues within the LGBTQ community, including suicidal thoughts, according to the report.
(Editing by Aaron Ross and Toby Chopra)
Credit: The Star : News Feed
