Two women in their 20s have been arrested in Uganda after neighbours allegedly reported seeing them kiss in public, an act criminalised under the country’s Anti-Homosexuality law.
Police say the pair were taken into custody on February 18 in Arua, a city in north-western Uganda, following complaints from residents. According to authorities, neighbours photographed the women and alerted police, accusing them of engaging in same-sex behaviour.
Local police spokesperson Josephine Angucia told AFP that residents claimed the two were seen kissing openly outside their home. She further alleged that groups of women had been visiting the pair’s one-bedroom residence and staying overnight, which neighbours reportedly interpreted as same-sex gatherings.
The two women, a 22-year-old entertainer and a 21-year-old unemployed woman are accused of engaging in conduct described by police as sexual in nature. Authorities say they have lived together since last year. Reports indicate they remain in custody without access to legal representation, and the case has been forwarded to prosecutors for review.
Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act is considered one of the strictest anti-LGBTQ+ laws in the world. It imposes life imprisonment for consensual same-sex relations and the death penalty for what are termed “aggravated” offences.
The legislation, which came into force in May 2023, has drawn widespread international condemnation. The United Nations, Western governments, and human rights groups have criticised the law, arguing it endangers LGBTQ+ individuals.
Human rights activist Frank Mugisha has described the arrests as a reflection of what he calls a hostile environment for LGBTQ+ Ugandans, warning that the law has contributed to increased blackmail and fear within affected communities.
Uganda, a predominantly conservative and Christian nation, continues to face global scrutiny over the enforcement of the law.