Uganda, a stable nation and regional powerhouse-with military involvement in neighboring Congo and South Sudan does a fair amount of tone setting. Troubling then, is a climate pushed fourth from its leadership criminalizing the intimacies of its citizenry. With a guard at her door international human rights activist and the Martin Ennals Award Recipient for Human Rights Defenders, Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera . The founder and executive director of an LGBT rights organization called Freedom And Roam Uganda, who continues to publicly campaign for an end to homophobia in Uganda, spoke to us one morning in hushed tones outlining the situation first hand.

ASM: Can you briefly tell us the story of how you became active in defending the rights of gay and lesbian people to live openly in Africa? What energized you to take a stand?
KJN: I became an activist because of the harassment and the intimidations that are imbedded in the legal codes. I had this natural questioning inside- wondering why it is illegal. When I could not find any real answer I started to challenge these laws.

ASM: Many people choose to leave, or to hide who they are. Was there something unique to your spirit that simply would not let you do that?
KJN: Well, I think I was just naive, because I had lived openly gay without concern for the whole of Uganda. But the whole of Uganda would not let me be; and I realized that this was a problem- a human rights issue facing not just Uganda but the whole of Africa and the wider world.

ASM: Can you tell us about the specific legal challenges to being gay in Uganda? We heard people are threatened with death and life imprisonment, by the government itself.
KJN: Well, the thing is this, our legal code already has life imprisonment for homosexual acts, but there is a troubling modification that makes it illegal for me to even talk about homosexual acts. It has essentially become illegal for me to talk about any issues concerning these people whose freedoms are threatened. To even talk about homosexuals could be considered a promotion; therefore anyone could be jailed for these discussions; so we can say nothing. Simply talking to you now, as I am, would be considered illegal if intercepted by the government.

“…. It has essentially become illegal for me to talk about any issues concerning these people whose freedoms are threatened…”

ASM: A lot of us find that sort of pressure to be inconceivable, but we appreciate you taking a stand. What are some of the things we as outsiders can do to support human rights in Uganda, and sub-Saharan Africa at large?
KJN: Well, as a start, giving us this sort of platform to voice our predicament and discuss things openly is very important. Furthering awareness and dialogue is important because the spaces we would use to raise awareness internally are censored and controlled by the government. So giving us a voice where we can talk about the issues facing our community is a start. But generally talking about human rights issues in a climate of freedom can be illuminating, and can help focus energies towards a concern for what is right and fair. But moving beyond these personal rights issues and addressing issues of corruption, issues of entrenched power that make these laws possible is key. This shows those in power that people around the world are watching and it would help balance things in favor of the regular people of Uganda

ASM: We know that there are other countries in Africa that are going through similar struggles between people’s liberty and the people’s leadership. Are there other activists working to support one another and unify causes across international boundaries?
KJN: Yes, we have a very large network on the African continent, and it is clear that what effects Uganda, or Ethiopia, does not just end within national borders. It affects everything from our neighborhoods, to the whole of Africa. Most recently we collaborated with activists entrenched in Nigeria by developing strategies to help neutralize these unjust laws in our respective countries. Every nation has its way and we have made aot of noise in Uganda. However, in other places, that may not be their way. As an activist, I know that just because there is silence, it does not mean nothing is happening. We have activists from around the entire African block monitoring and learning from each other and growing together. We have activists coming into Uganda to learn how we have maintained our type of LGBT community; and we too have seen different ways of sustaining ourselves and our identities through adverse climates of many types.

“…Beyond Africa, there is a lot of support from around the world in the form of people letting us know how much they love us. They encourage us and wish us success which lets us know that people really care about us…”

ASM: What has been the response from international community?
KJN: We have seen a great response from the African community. Bills are being proposed in Burundi and Rwanda that are similar to what we have in Uganda, but the people have had protests and demonstrations, learning from our example not to take hate and injustice lightly. Harassment, intimidation and blackmail are taking place, yet we are developing a network of financial support to fight these things legally. People are being beaten in the streets, and people are being vindictively arrested. In these cases, our networks offer financial support for defense and recovery. Thankfully, people have come, when they hear about this and offer their assistance. Beyond Africa, there is a lot of support from around the world in the form of people letting us know how much they love us. They encourage us and wish us success which lets us know that people really care about us. There are people asking to their political representatives to pay serious attention to what is happening; and asking them to dialogue diplomatically.

ASM: Did the laws that you have addressed as a threat to your freedom emerge from within your country, or was there some outside influence?
KJN: the laws now effecting Uganda with respect to the rights of LGBT people were drafted not by legislatures here in Uganda. They were originally by the Evangelicals from the United States of America. These are people who have sewn instability and hate into our community from outside.

ASM: Many Gay and Lesbian people the world over here have made notable contributions in the arts, government and businesses. It seems to us that criminalizing identity in this way would risk alienating a generation of talented and forward thinking people. It is as though these laws force citizens to choose between being Ugandan and being cosmopolitan .
KJN: Yes, but unfortunately our leadership has been not only cruel, but short sighted. Our government choosing to make a crime out of this kind of deep personal expression is certainly a factor in many talented and valuable people. These are people who could contribute so much to make Uganda a better and more vibrant place in the continent of Africa. Instead they choose to escape to live abroad than hide themselves and live in fear. Hopefully one day we will see a Uganda where all of its citizens are free to support one another with love, dignity and mutual respect. Until then, however, our work must continue.