Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused the Ugandan government of actively fueling hatred, violence, and discrimination against LGBTQ individuals through laws, policies, and public rhetoric, according to a report released on May 26, 2025.
The rights group stated that authorities in Uganda have escalated their campaign against LGBTQ people following the enactment of the Anti-Homosexuality Act, which was signed into law in 2023. The legislation includes harsh penalties, including the death penalty for certain same-sex acts.
Documented Abuses
HRW reported numerous incidents of arbitrary arrests, beatings, forced anal exams, evictions, and public humiliation. The group said that LGBTQ people in Uganda are living in fear, with police and community members often acting with impunity.
“The Ugandan government is complicit in a campaign of abuse,” said HRW researcher Oryem Nyeko. “People are being targeted simply for who they are.”
According to the report, LGBTQ shelters and safe spaces have been shut down, and medical professionals have denied treatment to patients suspected of being gay or transgender.
Government Denial
Ugandan officials have rejected previous criticism, saying the law reflects the country’s “moral and cultural values.” The government has not responded directly to HRW’s latest report, but President Yoweri Museveni and senior lawmakers have defended the legislation as necessary to “protect society.”
International Condemnation
The law has drawn widespread international condemnation from human rights organizations, foreign governments, and the United Nations. Several countries have reduced aid or imposed sanctions in response to the legislation.
HRW is urging donor governments and international agencies to continue pressuring Uganda to repeal the Anti-Homosexuality Act, and to support local human rights groups providing legal and health services to affected individuals.
Ongoing Risk
The report concludes that without significant reform, LGBTQ people in Uganda will continue to face institutional discrimination, physical danger, and social exclusion. HRW called on the international community to take “urgent, coordinated action” to ensure protection of basic rights.
Source; Al Jazeera
