Uganda Introduce Death Penalty For LGBTQ Community

At the end of this month, a new bill in Uganda - dubbed the “Kill The Gays Bill” will make homosexuality punishable by death. International LGBTQ rights organisation Rainbow Riots are offering refuge to the community in their groundbreaking new centre. Uganda’s Minister of State for Ethics & Integrity, Simon Lokodo said: “Our current penal law is limited. It only criminalises the act. We want it made clear that anyone who is even involved in promotion and recruitment has to be criminalised. Those that do grave acts will be given the death sentence."

In spite of the current developments, international human rights organisation Rainbow Riots have opened the country’s first LGBTQ community centre, in Kampala. In Europe and America we often speak of safe spaces, where we don't have to endure the disapprovals and discriminations of daily life in a heteronormative culture. In Uganda today, a safe space means a place where you don’t have to worry about being arrested - or even killed.

Rainbow Riots LGBTQ community centre is providing just that kind of refuge, which is more important than ever before given these recent developments. The centre will also offer advice and a diverse range of recreation programmes and services. It also includes spaces for arts and cultural activities and community gatherings. Rainbow Riots Ugandan coordinator Sheila Nalumansi said: “The situation for LGBTQ people in Uganda is extremely hostile. People who identify as LGBTQ are likely to face discrimination, harassment, arrests and eviction. With our work and advocacy strategies there is a glimmer of hope. Rainbow Riots have opened up the LGBTQ community centre, which is a safe space to welcome the Ugandan LGBTQ community. With creative expression, the organisation will keep fighting against hatred whilst giving Ugandan LGBTQ people an important voice in the world.”

The centre had not even opened before it courted controversy in Uganda. Minister Lokodo condemned the project and told The Guardian that opening the centre would be a criminal act. "We don’t and can’t allow it. LGBT activities are already banned and criminalised in this country. So popularising it is only committing a crime.” Nevertheless, Rainbow Riots pressed on with the project. Thanks to donations from private individuals around the world and a fundraising campaign run by Rainbow Riots and global organisation All Out, the centre recently opened its doors to the LGBTQ community in Uganda.

Rainbow Riots founder and director, Swedish artist and activist Petter Wallenberg said: "In spite of the challenges, we have succeeded in opening our LGBTQ community centre. We want to give Ugandan LGBTQ people hope and a refuge from violence and hatred and this centre is an important step. If we can help at least a few people, it’s a triumph. Our goal is to help create a world where no human lives in fear just for being who they are or loving who they love.”

Watch this short video about the community centre created by Rainbow Riots