"Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender is spreading like wildfire" - Musamali Arnold

Journalist Musamali Arnold speaks about  Gay, Lesbian and bisexual in Kampala, Uganda.

Part 1 of the story:

In uganda many ugandans have joined and still joining the gay,  Lesbian and bisexual men/women around the world; however, little is known about this population in sub-Saharan Africa. 

The LGBT fraternity in uganda is spreading like wildfire, be it in local communities, schools, Public offices , Artists, media fraternity and other places of work. 

We conducted a respondent-driven sampling survey of gay, Lesbian and bisexual men in Kampala, Uganda (N = 224). Overall, 61% reported themselves as "gay" and 39% as "bisexual". Gay and bisexual men were 92% Ugandan; 37% had unprotected receptive anal sex in the last six months, 27% were paid for sex, 18% paid for sex, 11% had history of urethral discharge.

Why many divert to these acts is because they have a Perception that gay and bisexual men are not at risk for HIV infection.

Gay, Lesbian and bisexual men in Kampala are overwhelmingly Ugandan nationals from all parts of society. Recognition of gay and bisexual men in local HIV prevention programs and education messages are urgently needed.

My  study demonstrates that gay, Lesbian and  bisexual men in Uganda are willing to identify themselves and participate in research, though ladies keep hiding in expensive hotels and pubs. 

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons in Uganda face legal challenges, active discrimination and stigmatisation not experienced by non-LGBT residents.

 Both male and female homosexual activity are illegal in Uganda. Under the Penal Code, "carnal knowledge against the order of nature" between two males carries a potential penalty of life imprisonment.

Adoption in Uganda:- With My Research conducted, several schools have also adopted the recruiting and training young girls and boys into the LGBT family. 

The LGBT family is highly connected with big funders across the world and are ready to pay off any media house or people campaigning against  them. 

LGBT people continue to face major discrimination in Uganda, actively encouraged by political and religious leaders like Pr Ssempa 

Violent and brutal attacks against LGBT people are common, often performed by state officials. Households headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for the same legal protections available to opposite-sex couples. 

Homosexual relations were accepted and commonplace in pre-colonial Ugandan society.

The British Empire introduced laws punishing homosexuality when Uganda became a British colony. 

These laws were kept after independence. Though several attempts have been done to see that the act can favour LGBT family.

The Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Act, 2014 was passed in 2013 and annulled in 2014. 

The Act carried a punishment of life in prison for "aggravated homosexuality".  The law brought Uganda into the international spotlight, and caused international outrage, with many governments refusing to provide further aid to Uganda.

In May 2021, the outgoing parliament passed further criminalization laws on both sex work and same-sex sexual activity.