more gay people suffer in silence as they are not able to communicate their suffering

August 1, 2005: I am a female Ugandan, 25 years of age and am writing this with clear conscience despite that most people in Uganda regard homosexuality as insanity.

On a sad note, I would like to say something on the terrible incident that happened on the 20-july-2005 to Uganda's prominent gay activist, Ms. Juliet Victor Mukasa and the Kenyan activist. This kind of ordeal has been on-going for years in Uganda as most of us have no way of informing you about our suffering, you are not able to report about it.

I would like to say that the reasons given by the LC1 as complaints from locals are not true. We as LGBTs here have suffered from that for a long time because as long a heterosexual person comes up an accusation, it's definitely the gay person in the wrong.

This is preciously because the people here think all gays are insane and immoral. I am a graduate and currently work for a public service institution. All that my co-workers say to me is that gay people are not worthy of human rights and should be treated like animals.

Such statements are so demeaning and unbecoming to a fellow human being.

This kind inhumane treatment of gay people flows from government t policies. Currently no laws that protect the lives of gay people in Uganda have been enacted. Being what we are the public takes it upon themselves to do anything they want to gays. And it is usually not good.

Two months ago I was denied food at a restaurant in town because of my sexuality.
I also had an incident at my former place. I paid my rent as usual yet the landlady sent me and a friend packing purely because she has a problem accepting homosexuality. When we reported the case to the LC1, he made it clear to us that he would like to get involved as it is unacceptable for government officials to help gay people.

There is one thing that I do not understand Most of who have settled with our partners. Through our discreet arrangements, we pose no danger to the public or reputed "natural discourse". I ask myself how about those so called policy makers who hook up prostitutes in the wee hours of the night? They don't condemn the sex workers who activities have also been criminalized by the state. They are clients to some of these women and also sex workers are regarded in high esteem as politicians see them as a strong voting sector. But gay people who stay at the home with partners are attacked in their houses. So sad.

There are a hundred other incidents that are not reported because being gay is illegal. The abuses take various forms, i.e. beating, rape and thrown of out our own houses. We all deal with it silently.

This is just the beginning as some MPs have vowed to uproot all of us out of Uganda.

Kandie*- Kampala
* Not her real name as you can imagine if her true identity is revealed, she might not be as lucky as Victor was and we are not sure if she would find appropriate shelter