Over the years, several events in Uganda have happened that have impacted the human rights of LGBTQ persons. Many of these events have been fueled by religion, culture/personal beliefs as well as judicial decisions and politics, thus explain the prevailing homophobia that has overtime become normal in the Ugandan community. This consequently has led to negative outcomes for the LGBTQ community hence infringing on their human rights ranging from; The Right to Equality and Freedom from Discrimination, The Freedom for Expression, Freedom from Arbitrary arrest and Prolonged Detention, The Right to Dignity and Freedom from Torture, Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment and Punishment.
Many of Uganda's LGBTQ persons have been victims of violence, social injustice and discrimination, abandonment by their families, leading them to live in fear of their lives, with many of them struggling to survive economically.
As minorities, this story seeks to project their voices and views on democracy, while highlighting their experiences of injustice in a period that Uganda goes into a presidential and parliamentary election.
"Policies are there, they just need to be enforced and implemented. If we talk of equality, freedom of speech and expression, plus access to medical care for all Ugandans, why can't this apply to us the LGBT as well! Are we not Ugandans? Are we not human beings?
I was born in this government, and have grown to see what it is. I really just want to see change, maybe as LGBT, we might find some hope in our country"
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Lillian Baraza (Bisexual), posses for a portrait outside her home in a suburb in Kampala.
"In this country and probably many others, you can't be kissing or holding hands of your partner if you are same-sex, they would burn you alive (laughs off). I really want to see better leadership where everyone is equal, and rights affect everyone the same way. Most importantly, the government needs to put in place medical services for the LGBTQ people, especially the gays and transgender because there is a lot of discrimination in health centers. Because I'm Bi, it is easy to get away with it, but I sympathize with the trans and gay people"
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Sheeba Ntaate (Transwoman)
"The political race in Uganda is one of the worst. I don't really see meaningful youth engagement and the LGBT do not have an open space to take up political positions. I think that the government should decriminalize sex work because this is work! and work is work! Most of us trans people make a living through this, since we are not accepted in most workspaces. I for one suffered from sexual harassment where I was working last year and my bosses let me go"
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Watson Samuel (Queer)
"The political space right now is really tense and I do not really want to be part of it. I am eligible to vote, but I don't think I will be voting because I do not feel like anyone is worth my vote. If someone like Frank Mugisha (renown Ugandan LGBTQ activist) said he was contesting for anything, I would go out and even rally for him because these are the people that have walked in our shoes and know what it means to be marginalized, so they would definitely carry on our message.
People in power need to know that we are human. If they want to implement any policy regarding our community, they need to get to the grassroots, do research about us, and understand us more than just a minority"
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Monalisa Akintole (Transwoman)
"All my life has been about fighting for space and just to be heard. So as a leader at Transgender Equality Uganda (TEU), we are always clamoring people in political spheres to listen to us, and give us opportunities to express ourselves, but that never cultivates hope. It's just word and word.
I love leadership because it satisfies me, but it's sad that with all the qualifications I have, It is hard to get this opportunity. Once you stand out and people see you are different from their usual gender identities, it will cease to be politics anymore but rather shaming you, and I'm not ready for that"
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Kalvin (Transwoman)
"After the Miss Pride event in 2016, where I was also a contestant, I got randomly arrested on my way back home by the police claiming I was cross-dressing to con people. It was really tough spending two days behind bars simply because of who I am. I was lucky to make some calls and got bailed out by some of the event organizers"
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Keith Mayanja (Transwoman)
"I was in the bar sometime with my colleagues when the police arrested us like thieves, claiming that we were impersonating and dressed like women to scam people. The accusations were terrible as they went ahead to call the media to record us and put us on the news. It was an embracing situation as one of my friends' parents disowned them after watching it"
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Boutras Anderson (Transwoman)
"There is no open political space for us LGBT persons. If you are a gay person and people get to know you are contesting for a Member of Parliament position, chances are high they will not be voting for you.
I will not be able to vote in this political season, because I have failed to get a National ID for two years now. The government needs to consider name changing policies as some of us especially the Trans are not able to use the desired names of our gender identities on the Identity Cards"
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Kalvin (Transwoman)
"After the Miss Pride event in 2016, where I was also a contestant, I got randomly arrested on my way back home by the police claiming I was cross-dressing to con people. It was really tough spending two days behind bars simply because of who I am. I was lucky to make some calls and got bailed out by some of the event organizers"
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Divina Lorinda (Queer)
"Politics is one of the reasons why we don't have peace. The people in the political game should start seeing us from a more human perspective and realize that they are only spreading hate.
We are not asking to be treated in any special way, we just want equality for all. I want to feel special and proud of my country"
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Zack Asiimwe (Transwoman)
"I surely fear matters of politics. I was almost killed during the last campaigns in Mbale while supporting our very Sempijja Dalausi, a transwoman, who was contesting for an LC4 Councilor position. From that time, I fear actively participating in campaigns or any political matters.
I was beaten by a mob because of my sexual orientation. When I reported the case to the police with the hope to get assistance, one officer dismissed my case while asking me to go away, saying that he would instead arrest me. I honestly don't feel like Ugandan sometimes, I can't wait till I get an opportunity to get asylum in a much fairer country"
Stuart Tibaweswa
Kampala-based Ugandan documentary photographer, whose work often focuses on marginalised communities and their relationship to wider society.
