Police Raid Shuts Down Uganda's Lesbian's End Of Year Party.

Members of the Lesbian community Uganda

Uganda’s lesbian end of year forced to shut down at the weekend after police stormed the venue and ladies fled, fearing arrest, its organizers said.

On Saturday afternoon, three policemen, including one armed with an AK-47 rifle, burst into the venue in the capital Kampala where the lesbian party was ongoing.

Photo:Nanfuka in Blue before police raided the venue 

“We were very shocked,” said Nanfuka Mary, the party organiser and a re-known member of the LGBTQ community 

“In Uganda there’s this narrative that there are no lesbian people, that it’s a Western import. This is why we need this kind of party to attract more of our friends who are still in hide outs,” - Nanfuka .

Homosexuality is illegal in the socially conservative East African country and violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people is common.

Nicholas Opiyo, head of Chapter Four Uganda, an independent human rights group, said he informed the end od year party  organizers that the police were on their way after a tip off.

The attendees quickly left the venue, where a police officer had already been waiting outside taking pictures of those going in and out with his cellphone, he said.

Mary founder and organizer of the lesbian party 

Government spokesman Ofwono Opondo said by phone he was unaware of the incident.

Uganda police have raided similar events before with officials accusing organizers of assembling illegally and promoting gay lifestyle.

Last year, Ugandan police raided a nightclub where a gay pride event was underway and arrested at least 15 people.

“For the past two years, it has been impossible to organize any major LGBT event (in Uganda),” - Akello Eve - Human rights activist .

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has compiled evidence of the use of forced anal examinations in Uganda to “prove” homosexuality.

Police continue to carry out examinations on men and transgender women accused of consensual same-sex acts, according to a 2014 HRW report that described the practice “cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment that may amount to torture”.

But LGBT activists said they would not back down and vowed to hold the film festival and parties again later this month.

“Because if we don’t do it, it means the homophobic people are actually winning,” said Hellen - member of the LGBTQ. “We are not bowing down because we are not breaking any laws and we are on the right side of history.”