The Persecution Of Homosexuals In Uganda

The history of the human race is an ongoing tale of oppression and prejudice. Mistreatment of disadvantaged social groups is not a modern occurrence. Racism, ableism, and homophobia can be found in many cultures, with many specific incidents scattered across several centuries. Three examples of the persecution of a marginalized group of people include the hunting of the Romani people in Medieval Europe, the widespread Nazi euthanasia campaign that targeted people with physical and mental disabilities, and the discrimination faced by homosexuals in Uganda. All three of these examples are not widely taught in standard curriculums, yet the pain and suffering faced by the individuals in these groups still resonate into modern times as these groups …show more content…
The repercussions of homosexual practices in Uganda has varied over the years. Prior to becoming a British protectorate, Uganda had no recorded instances of homophobia or persecution of homosexual acts (Hanley and Lee). Many claim that homophobia in Uganda has arisen out of the British laws put in place during its colonial era, as well as the widespread teachings of American missionaries, such as Scott Lively, the founder of Abiding Truth Ministries (Hanley and Lee). Similar to the United States, much of the homophobia can be attributed to the religious beliefs of the region, with several major religions condemning same-sex relationships. These beliefs have greatly influenced the development of Uganda’s anti-homosexuality laws. Evidence of this claim can be found in the words of Cyprian Lwanga, a Roman Catholic Bishop of Uganda, who responded to the laws: “We, the Catholic Bishops of Uganda, appreciate and applaud the Government’s effort to protect the traditional family and its values” (Robinson). Religion played a key role in the development and support of the laws. The bill at the center of lots of controversy is the Anti-Homosexuality Act, which was passed in 2014 and had originally included the death penalty for repeat offenders (Hanley and Lee; Robinson). The version of the bill that was passed had included life imprisonment for repeat offenders, fourteen years of imprisonment for getting caught in the act of homosexual intercourse, and seven years of imprisonment for those who either promote or help homosexual individuals, but the bill was invalidated due to the violation in parliamentary procedure (Hanley and Lee). This has not stopped the persecution of LGBT community members in Uganda, however. Ketifa, a lesbian living in Uganda, shared her story with VICE magazine, outlining the atrocities she has endured due to her sexual orientation. Ketifa recalls how her