On 4 August, after three days of peaceful and successful celebrations and outreach, the International Pride Week in Kampala came to a brutal end when police arrived at the planned pageant to crown Mr/Ms/Mx Uganda and arrested at least 16 people, mostly prominent activists. Those arrested were humiliated and beaten, leaving some in need of extensive medical treatment, while those at the venue were detained, and subjected to abuse and degrading treatment.

 

In Tanzania, the Minister of Justice recently announced plans to suspend the registration of any NGO supporting the LGBTI community. His statement followed a speech by Paul Makonda, the regional commissioner for Dar es Salaam, in which Makondaannouncedhis planned crackdown against homosexuality.

 

Already repercussions of these statements are being felt within the LGBTI community. After Cloud Television aired an interview with a gay man, the station was ordered to apologise to ‘viewers and Tanzanians’ for five consecutive days by the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority. On 15 August, the Deputy Ministry of Health unexpectedly visited the Community Health Services and Advocacy offices to inspect their compliance with new legislation put in place to ‘discourage homosexuality’, while confiscating a number of documents and ordering staff members to report to police for further interrogation.

 

LGBTI rights remain a hotly debated issue and often side-lined from mainstream human rights both inside and outside the East and Horn of Africa. Human rights defenders who exercise their rights to peacefully assemble and freely express themselves must be protected, regardless of their sexual orientation or how controversial their work may be to some.

 

Yours in solidarity,


Hassan Shire