Steven Kabuye: A Ugandan LGBTQ Activist Recounts his escape to Canada

Steven Kabuye, a prominent 26-year-old Ugandan LGBTQ+ activist, bears the physical and emotional scars from a knife attack that almost took his life. His body is marked with a foot-long scar on his right arm and a puncture wound on his torso, which serve as constant reminders of the risks that LGBTQ+ individuals face in Uganda under the Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023.

The attack happened in January, when Kabuye was ambushed on his way to work in Kampala. Video footage of Kabuye, bleeding on the ground, went viral on X (formerly Twitter), shedding light on the harsh realities faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in Uganda.

Since the implementation of the Anti-Homosexuality Act, over 600 LGBTQ+ Ugandans have experienced human rights violations, according to UN estimates. Kabuye is one of many who have fled the country due to escalating violence and death threats.

With assistance from Rainbow Railroad, a non-profit aiding LGBTQ+ people at immediate risk, Kabuye has resettled in Toronto, Canada, where he continues to run his social justice organization, Coloured Voices Media Foundation. His focus remains on advocating for the Ugandan LGBTQ+ community despite being far from home.

Kabuye’s journey as an activist began at age 18, when he came out in high school. Despite some bullying, he generally felt accepted by his peers. However, witnessing a friend get evicted from their home for being gay pushed Kabuye to establish Coloured Voices Media Foundation, which aims to counter misinformation about the Ugandan LGBTQ+ community.

After the Anti-Homosexuality Act was passed, Kabuye witnessed a rise in violence against the LGBTQ+ community, including an incident where a coworker was attacked with a rock. Kabuye himself became a target, receiving death threats and having his home address shared online.

Fearing for his life, he fled to Nairobi, Kenya, where he spent a month hiding in a hotel. He continued his activism online but returned to Kampala in December to continue his work on the ground. However, the risks soon became apparent.

One morning in January, two men attacked Kabuye on his way to work. They wounded him with a knife, leaving him to bleed on the roadside. He managed to call a friend for help before losing consciousness. Despite the attack, police accused Kabuye of promoting homosexuality and searched his house while he was in the hospital.

Kabuye sought refuge once again in Nairobi, where Rainbow Railroad facilitated his emergency flight to Canada. Landing in Toronto, he was greeted by the organization with a pride flag, marking a bittersweet moment of safety and a new beginning.

While living in Toronto, Kabuye continues to advocate for the Ugandan LGBTQ+ community and raise awareness of the dangers they face under the Anti-Homosexuality Act. His story highlights the challenges and resilience of LGBTQ+ activists who fight for equality despite the risks.

Kabuye continues to share his message: “The price of freedom for an ordinary LGBTQI+ Ugandan is death.”