Uganda: LGBTI NGO attacked in Kampala February 8

Event

The offices of the Human Rights Awareness and Promotion Forum (HRAPF) NGO, an advocacy organization, was attacked in the Namirembe district of the capital Kampala on Thursday, February 8. The group reported that unidentified assailants broke into its office, disabled parts of the security system, and attacked and seriously injured two guards with machetes. The motives of the attack remains unclear. The NGO announced plans to relocate its activities on February 12 to a police station located in the capital.

Context

The offices were also attacked in May 2016, during which one security guard was killed.  HRAPF works to protect the rights of marginalized groups including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) people, as well as sex workers. This organization has notably contributed to the withdrawal of the 2014 law criminalizing homosexuality. Last week the NGO conducted police training in the east of the country to combat violence against the LGBT community in Uganda.

Human rights violations are regularly reported in the country. In recent months, NGOs and the media have been particularly targeted; newspaper offices have been burglarized, journalists intimidated, and other NGO interests attacked. According to a local NGO, at least 14 NGOs were attacked in 2017; police have repeatedly been criticized for their inability to protect the groups.

Advice

Individuals present in Uganda are advised to monitor the situation and be aware that public displays of homosexuality (such as kissing in public places) are generally very poorly received by locals.