{"id":49826,"date":"2025-06-03T02:15:00","date_gmt":"2025-06-03T01:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ket.brussels\/?p=49826"},"modified":"2025-05-26T14:21:48","modified_gmt":"2025-05-26T13:21:48","slug":"living-in-fear-ugandas-anti-lgbtq-law-and-its-impact-on-young-people","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ket.brussels\/fr\/2025\/06\/03\/living-in-fear-ugandas-anti-lgbtq-law-and-its-impact-on-young-people\/","title":{"rendered":"Living in Fear: Uganda\u2019s Anti-LGBTQ+ Law and Its Impact on Young People"},"content":{"rendered":"

Uganda\u2019s \u201cAnti-Homosexuality Law,\u201d passed in 2023, has become one of the world\u2019s harshest pieces of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. According to Human Rights Watch (HRW)<\/a>, this law has not only made life more dangerous for LGBTQ+ people in Uganda, but it has also \u201cinstitutionalized homophobia,\u201d creating a climate of fear and violence that affects thousands\u2014especially young people.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Does the Law Say?<\/strong>
The law imposes extremely severe penalties for same-sex relationships and for anyone accused of \u201cpromoting\u201d homosexuality. It even introduces a charge called \u201caggravated homosexuality,\u201d which can technically carry the death penalty (though Uganda hasn\u2019t actually executed anyone for years). Even so, the threat is real and terrifying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Illustrations \u00a9 2025 Dianah Lala Bwengye for Human Rights Watch<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Has Life Changed for LGBTQ+ Ugandans?<\/strong>
Since the law passed, violence, threats, and arrests have increased dramatically. HRW\u2019s report, \u201cThey Put Our Lives at Risk: How Uganda\u2019s Anti-LGBT Law Unleashes Abuse,\u201d highlights how the law has made it easier for people\u2014including police and regular citizens\u2014to target LGBTQ+ individuals with little fear of consequences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oyem Nyeko, the author of the report, explains:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The law has legitimized attacks on LGBTQ+ people and organizations. Now, people live in a constant state of fear, because there\u2019s a law that basically says it\u2019s okay to hurt them.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

There are reports of police officers blackmailing LGBTQ+ people\u2014meeting them online, then threatening arrest unless they pay up. Violence against LGBTQ+ people has increased, but rarely are the attackers brought to justice. In many cases, the authorities simply look the other way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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