EAC CSO Statement on Uganda’s anti-rights Anti-Homosexuality, Act 2023

We, the undersigned civil society organisations, and community-based organisations working on HIV, TB, sexual and reproductive health and rights, minority non-discrimination, with key and affected populations and on health and human rights in Kenya, join the global community in condemning the passage and assent of the Anti-Homosexuality Act in Uganda.

We are disappointed that despite numerous calls from citizens of Uganda, communities, civil society and development partners, President Yoweri Museveni proceeded to assent to the Anti-Homosexuality Act, 2023.

We express concern over the negative impact that this legislation will have on the ability of the LGBTQ+ community in Uganda to access health services, including HIV prevention, treatment, and management services. 

The legislation will exacerbate and legitimize violence, harassment, aggression, intimidation, discrimination, increase HIV infection rates, stigma against the LGBTQ+ community in Uganda, and negatively impact all their spheres of lives.

This law breaches national, regional, and international human rights commitments that Uganda is a signatory to and advances a cause that violates fundamental human rights of the people of Uganda, breeding a culture of intolerance and violence. The objects of the law and the crimes it creates are egregious and in violation of Uganda’s national, regional and international obligations and responsibilities to respect, protect and uphold human rights.

We take note of the fact that laws that criminalize consensual same-sex conduct drive entire populations underground and make it exceedingly difficult for individuals to access effective health care services, particularly in relation to Sexual and Reproductive Health or interventions for the management of HIV and opportunistic infections like TB. By legitimizing stigma, discrimination and violence, the effect of this law will be to stop people from accessing health care interventions which enable them to lead safe and dignified lives. This will lead to poor SRHR outcomes in Uganda.

Further, by purporting to protect family values, the law takes a narrow and restrictive conception of family, yet family is formed in various ways. We invite the legislators in Uganda to learn from the progressive, inclusive, and revolutionary Cuban Family Code’s conception of a family. Criminalizing an entire section of the population who are not interfering with the rights of others is no way to ‘protect family values.’

We also take this opportunity to recognize and applaud the ten individual petitioners and one organization who have filed a constitutional petition in the Constitutional Court of Uganda to challenge this legislation.

In conclusion, we call for this law to be repealed and also call on the leadership of the East African Community to condemn, in no uncertain terms, this outrageous legislation. 

Download statement here: EAC-CSO-Statement-on-Ugandas-anti-rights-Anti-Homosexuality-Act-2023-1.pdf (kelinkenya.org)

Endorsed by:

  1. Kenya Legal and Ethical Issues Network on HIV and AIDS (KELIN)
  2. Men For Positive Living support community based organization
  3. Coalition for Grassroots Human Rights Defenders – Kenya (CGHRDs-Kenya)
  4. Pamoja TB Group
  5. AIDS Healthcare Foundation-Kenya (AHF-Kenya)
  6. Ishtar -MSM
  7. HOYMAS KENYA
  8. HAPA KENYA
  9. Pema Kenya
  10. MAAYGO
  11. Usawa Kwa Wote Initiati(UKWELI)
  12. Health GAP
  13. Salina Youth Initiative, Kenya
  14. Watu Center for Health and Advocacy (WACHA HEALTH)
  15. TALANTA AFRICA – TA
  16. Consolation
  17. KP Consortium of Kenya
  18. Raise Your Voice
  19. galck+
  20. Amnesty international Kenya
  21. Women Collective Kenya
  22. Youth Empowerment and Support CBO Machakos
  23. Impact 4 Youth Kenya (I4Y-K)
  24. Western Kenya LBQT Feminist Forum
  25. Forum For Civic Participation in Governance (FCPG) Migori County
  26. Secular Kenya
  27. AMKENI MALINDI ORGANIZATION
  28. Kitui Innovators
  29. Zamara Foundation
  30. Hope Trans Initiative
  31. Lake Region Womxn Health and Equal Rights
  32. East Africa Legal Service Network
  33. Trans Support CBO
  34. Picture youth group organization
  35. Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC)
  36. Defenders Coalition – Kenya
  37. Kwale Network of People Who Use Drugs [KwaNPUD KENYA]
  38. National Empowerment Network of PLHIV in Kenya [NEPHAK]
  39. Afya Yetu Coalition – Kenya
  40. Revolutionary Socialist League
  41. JINSIANGU KENYA
  42. Repro Justice Congo (DRC)
  43. MUAMKO MPYA CBO
  44. Coalition for Peace and Gender Champions in Africa(CPGC-Africa)
  45. Voices of Women in Western Kenya (VOWWEK]
  46. The Eagles for Life Kenya (TEFL-K)
  47. Impact CBO Meru