DeLovie Kwagala (Papa De), a homosexual Ugandan photographer and activist, was residing in South Africa when news came that Uganda’s parliament had enacted one of the world’s toughest anti-LGBTQ measures.
The law, which went into effect in March, carries draconian penalties such as the death penalty for particular acts including gay intercourse, and a 20-year prison term for “promoting” homosexuality.
This legislation is expected to be returned to parliament this week with President Yoweri Museveni’s signature, veto, or rejection. Western countries and advocacy groups have criticized the measure, claiming that it endangers human rights.
While it was previously illegal in Uganda to engage in sexual activity with someone of the same sex, supporters of the new legislation said it was necessary to penalize a broader range of LGBTQ behaviors that they see as a threat to traditional values in the conservative and religious East African country.
The act has made it such that Kwagala, who moved to South Africa in 2021 in search of work, no longer feels safe returning to his birthplace.
Kwagala, who does not identify as either male or female, expressed disappointment at not being able to return to the region to tell the stories she had planned.
They remarked from their Johannesburg home, “I wanted to tell stories about queer joy, bravery, about those of us who are braving… prejudice and ill-treatment to still be able to show up as ourselves.”
Kwagala claimed that officials had sexually assaulted them, that they had been evicted from their house because they were living with their partner, and that they had been held for two days after being found at a gay club.
Members of Uganda’s LGBTQ community allege they have been forced to conceal their identities, leave their homes, or avoid public areas since the law was passed.
Arrests for having sexual relations with someone of the same sex have also become increasingly common in local news sources.
Kwagala is collaborating with friends to collect and distribute funds for LGBTQ Ugandans, some of whom have been evicted and others who are in hiding.
Over fifty requests for support and help with crowdfunding campaigns have been received.
“I’m really, really heartbroken and sad, and I feel called to action to help ease the situation for others,” they said.
