A well-known advocate for LGBTQ+ rights in Uganda is currently in critical condition after being attacked by unidentified individuals on a motorcycle while on his way to work on Wednesday.
Police reported that Steven Kabuye, 25, was attacked on the outskirts of Kampala and sustained knife injuries before being discovered by nearby residents.
Advocates for human rights have expressed concerns about the potential for violence against individuals in the LGBTQ+ community following Uganda’s implementation of one of the most severe anti-gay legislations globally in 2020.
Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango released a statement stating that Kabuye informed detectives, who were investigating the incident, that he had been receiving threats on his life.
“Mr. Kabuye reported that he was approached by two individuals on a motorcycle, both wearing helmets. The passenger dismounted and proceeded to attack him, specifically aiming for his neck with a knife,” Onyango explained.
“According to a witness, Kabuye used his right arm to protect his neck and ended up with a stab wound in his hand. He tried to escape, but the attackers pursued him and stabbed him in the stomach before leaving him for dead. Fortunately, he was discovered by nearby residents who brought him to a medical facility for treatment.”
Richard Lusimbo, leader of the Uganda Key Populations Consortium community action group, expressed that their main focus is on ensuring the victim receives proper medical care and holding those responsible for the terrible act accountable.
Hans Senfuma, a gay rights activist from Uganda, stated on X that the assailants had the intention of murdering Kabuye. “Steven alleges that these two individuals had no intention of robbery, but rather to kill him. He also suspects that they had been surveilling him for several days,” Senfuma reported.
Kabuye, an employee of the Coloured Voices Media Foundation, an organization that advocates for the rights of LGBTQ+ youth, informed investigators during their visit to him in the hospital that he had been receiving threatening messages since March 2023.
In December, he went back to Uganda to celebrate Christmas after being away since June.
Last year in May, Uganda implemented a law against homosexuality that includes a section stating that “aggravated homosexuality” could be punishable by death, and outlines punishments of up to life imprisonment for consensual same-sex relationships.
For a long time, Uganda has deemed homosexuality as illegal according to a law from the colonial era that penalizes sexual acts deemed “unnatural”. This could lead to life imprisonment if found guilty. The recent law also included additional crimes and consequences.
Kabuye expressed his worry on X regarding the repercussions of the 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Act in Uganda. He stated that this law goes against fundamental human rights and could lead to discrimination and mistreatment of the LGBTQ+ community. He urged for unity and resistance against discrimination and hatred.
The law sparked anger from those who support human rights and countries in the western world, and is currently facing a legal challenge in Uganda’s constitutional court.
The government of President Yoweri Museveni has taken a firm stance, with officials claiming that the west is attempting to coerce Africa into embracing homosexuality.
Source: theguardian.com
