Fleeing for Their Lives: LGBTQ+ Ugandans Find Refuge in Kenya

Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act, among the world’s harshest laws targeting LGBTQ+ individuals, has left countless lives shattered. Enacted a year ago, the law imposes the death penalty for consensual same-sex relations, subjecting individuals to extreme abuse, including torture, rape, and forced eviction. Faced with this grim reality, many Ugandans have fled their homeland, seeking refuge across borders. Edith Kamani reports from Kenya, where these refugees struggle to survive.

The Journey of Survival
MO, a Ugandan queer man, has been living in Kenya since 2016, driven out by the oppressive environment back home. The tightening of anti-LGBTQ+ laws in Uganda made his life unbearable, even turning his family against him. “I was brutally beaten by my uncle, who called me a disgrace. I woke up in a hospital bed and realized Uganda was no longer safe for me,” he recounts.

Since relocating, MO has built a life in Kenya, working with an organization that creates safe spaces for displaced LGBTQ+ individuals. Currently, nine people, mostly from Uganda, live with him in a safe house. Despite the relative comfort, the trauma of displacement lingers. “It really pains me that I don’t regard Uganda as home anymore. I hope everyone back home can one day feel safe,” MO says.

The Illusion of Safety
While Kenya offers some refuge, the threat of violence persists. MO has had to move houses four times due to harassment. He recounts a recent attack on a motorcycle taxi simply for being queer. “I would be conscious of using the word ‘safe,'” cautions Pokeani, a lawyer working with the queer community. “There is no guarantee of safety; you’re still governed by laws and communities that harbor hatred for homosexuals.”

Stories of Endurance
At the safe house, we meet Champagne, a transgender woman who escaped to Kenya with donor support. Her experiences of abuse in Uganda mirror the struggles of many. “Even my mother told me, if they arrest you, you’re going to die in prison. My brother wished for my death,” she shares. Despite the uncertainty, Champagne hopes to one day live in a country where her sexuality is not criminalized.

A Community of Resilience
In the safe house, MO shows a gallery of queer individuals from around the world, a reminder of their shared struggle. His commitment to supporting the displaced in Kenya remains unwavering, despite the challenges. “We are not alone,” he emphasizes, reflecting the spirit of resilience that keeps them going.

Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act has pushed its LGBTQ+ community into perilous journeys for survival. While Kenya offers a semblance of refuge, true safety remains elusive. The stories of MO, Champagne, and others highlight the ongoing battle for dignity and acceptance in the face of relentless adversity.