DeLovie Kwagala, known as Papa De, a queer Ugandan photographer and activist, was living in Johannesburg, South Africa, when news came that Uganda’s parliament had passed one of the world’s toughest anti-LGBTQ bills. The bill, which was passed in March, imposes severe penalties, including 20 years in prison for “promoting” homosexuality and the death penalty for certain crimes related to gay sex.
President Yoweri Museveni must now decide whether to sign, veto, or send the bill back to parliament this week. The bill has been widely denounced by pressure groups and Western governments, who say it will undermine human rights and further endanger the LGBTQ community in Uganda.
Same-sex relations were already illegal in Uganda, but supporters of the bill argued that a tougher law was needed to punish a broader range of LGBTQ activities, which they claim threaten traditional values in the conservative and religious East African nation.
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For Kwagala, who moved to South Africa in 2021 for work, the passage of the bill means they no longer feel safe to return home to Uganda.
“There’s a lot of stories that I wanted to tell in that place so it really hurts me that I can’t go back,” said Kwagala, who identifies as non-binary.
“I wanted to tell stories about queer joy, about bravery, about those of us who are braving prejudice and ill-treatment to still be able to show up as ourselves,” they added, speaking from their apartment in Johannesburg.
Kwagala has experienced a history of discrimination in Uganda, including being jailed for two days after being arrested at a gay bar, getting evicted for living with a girlfriend, and being sexually assaulted by bureaucrats.
Since the passage of the anti-LGBTQ bill, members of the LGBTQ community in Uganda have reported lying low, fleeing their homes, or disguising their identities to avoid drawing attention to their sexuality, which could potentially trigger violence against them. Local media reports have also noted an increase in arrests for same-sex relations.
In response, Kwagala is working with friends to raise and distribute money to LGBTQ Ugandans, some of whom have been evicted from their homes, while others are in hiding.
“We have received more than 50 requests for support and have helped run crowdfunding campaigns,” said Kwagala.
“I’m really, really heartbroken and sad, and I feel called to act to help ease the situation for others,” they added.
The passage of Uganda’s anti-LGBTQ bill has sparked concerns among human rights activists and LGBTQ communities globally, who continue to call for the protection of LGBTQ rights and an end to discrimination and persecution based on sexual orientation or gender identity. As the situation in Uganda remains uncertain, activists like Kwagala are committed to providing support and solidarity to the LGBTQ community, both within Uganda and beyond its borders.
