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LGBT Rights in Uganda

    Homosexuality
    ✖ Illegal (death penalty as punishment)
    Gay Marriage
    ✖ Not legal
    Censorship
    ✖ Imprisonment as punishment
    Changing Gender
    Ambiguous
    Non-binary gender recognition
    ✖ Not legally recognized
    Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Employment Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Housing Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Adoption
    ✖ Illegal
    Military
    ✖ Illegal
    Donating Blood
    Unknown
    Conversion Therapy
    ✖ Not banned
    Age of Consent
    N/A

Recent studies in Uganda indicate societal resistance to LGBTQ+ rights.

History

Homosexual activity in Uganda

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Homosexual activity in Uganda is illegal (death penalty as punishment).

Current status
Since May 29, 2023
Illegal (death penalty as punishment)
President Yoweri Museveni signed an "Anti-Homosexuality" bill into law. This still punishes homosexuality with imprisonment up to life, but the bill allows "aggravated homosexuality" to be punished by death.

The definition of "aggravated homosexuality" includes three main categories.
1. Consensual sex between adults wherein the party is a second-time offender.
2. Rape, against an adult or a child.
3. Homosexual activities performed by those with HIV, or that involve a disabled or elderly person.

"Attempted homosexuality" is also punishable by law, meeting up to 10 years in prison, while "attempted aggravated homosexuality" can be met with up to 14 years.

May 3, 2021–Mar 22, 2023
Illegal (up to life in prison as punishment)
The Sexual Offences Bill (2019), first tabled in 2015, criminalises sexual activity between persons of the same gender.
Added by beeurd  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Aug 1, 2014–May 2, 2021
Male illegal, female uncertain
Previous bill was struck down due to a technicality rendering it unconstitutional. However, homosexual conduct is still explicitly illegal and is punishable by imprisonment.
Added by robertshippey  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Feb 24, 2014–Jul 31, 2014
Illegal (up to life in prison as punishment)
Under this bill, "aggravated homosexuality" is punishable by imprisonment for life. Includes provisions which make it illegal to aid homosexuality, touch with the intent of homosexuality, and promote homosexuality. Allows extradition for homosexuality-related offenses.

Earlier referred to internationally as the "Kill the Gays" bill when first proposed on October 13, 2009, life imprisonment was substituted for the death penalty following international pressure.

Prior to this bill, homosexuality was illegal under Section 145 of the penal code, punishable by up to life imprisonment.
Added by psyklic  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Jun 15, 1950–Feb 24, 2014
Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
Section 145 of the penal code indicates any carnal knowledge against nature is punishable for 7 years to life in prison.
Added by vviet93  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Same-sex marriage in Uganda

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Same-sex marriage in Uganda is not legal.

Current status
Since May 29, 2023
Not legal
The "Anti-Homosexuality Bill" signed into law by President Yoweri Museveni states that same-sex marriage is punishable by 10 years imprisonment. The same punishment is to be applied to those conducting same-sex marriage ceremonies.
Added by daikman  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Jul 12, 2005–May 26, 2023
Not legal
Marriage in Uganda is defined as a union between a man and a woman constitutionally.
Added by vviet93  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Censorship of LGBT Issues in Uganda

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Censorship of LGBT Issues in Uganda is imprisonment as punishment.

Current status
Since May 29, 2023
Imprisonment as punishment
As of May 29, 2023, the Anti-Homosexuality Bill was passed. This makes it punishable by a fine or 5-years imprisonment to "promote homosexuality" or use electronic devices for the "purposes of homosexuality". Practically, this prevents accurate discussion of LGBT issues in Ugandan media.
Added by Pizzaslices412653  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

2019–May 29, 2023
State-enforced
In 2019, the Uganda Communications Commission adopted the Standards for General Broadcast Programming in Uganda. Article 6(5) determines that “information, themes or subplots on lifestyles such as homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexualism, transsexualism, transvestism, paedophilia and incest” should not “promote, justify or glamorize” them. Further, explicit dialogue or information concerning the above topics should not be broadcasted. In addition, Article 8.6 states that sex education programmes should not encourage or promote “unnatural sex acts”.
Added by equaldex  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Right to change legal gender in Uganda

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Right to change legal gender in Uganda is ambiguous.

Current status
Since Mar 26, 2015
Ambiguous
Only people born as intersex could change their ID from male to female or female to male following surgery certified by a medical doctor.
Sources:
opendemocracy.net/en/5050/t…
ulii.org/akn/ug/act/2015/4/eng@2015-03-26#:~:text=%281%29%20This%20Act%20applies%20to%20the%20registration%20of,and%20the%20United%20Nations%20High%20Commissioner%20for%20Refugees.
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Uganda

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Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Uganda is not legally recognized.

Current status
Not legally recognized
The law do not provide the option of identifying as “non-binary/intersex/gender non-conforming.”
Added by Markissik  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

LGBT discrimination in Uganda

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LGBT discrimination in Uganda is no protections.

Current status
Since Jun 15, 1904
No protections
As homosexual conduct is illegal, discrimination against LGBTQ+ people are very present. Most recently, the anti-homosexuality bill tried to make it illegal for any person to not report an LGBT individual.
Added by vviet93  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

LGBT employment discrimination in Uganda

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LGBT employment discrimination in Uganda is no protections.

Current status
No protections
According to the ILGA World, there are no protections in employment.
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

LGBT housing discrimination in Uganda

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LGBT housing discrimination in Uganda is no protections.

Current status
Since Jun 15, 1904
No protections
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Same-sex adoption in Uganda

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Same-sex adoption in Uganda is illegal.

Current status
Illegal
No laws in place for same sex couples.
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Serving openly in military in Uganda

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Serving openly in military in Uganda is illegal.

Current status
Illegal
There is no certain laws that outlaw gays serving in military, but intense discrimination prevents gays from serving openly. As such, homosexual activity is not legal.
Sources:
(See sources listed for homosexual activity.)
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Blood donations by MSMs in Uganda

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Blood donations by MSMs in Uganda is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Conversion therapy in Uganda

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Conversion therapy in Uganda is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
According to the ILGA World, there's no ban on conversion therapy in Uganda.
Added by Markissik  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Equal age of consent in Uganda

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Equal age of consent in Uganda is n/a.

Current status
Since May 3, 2021
N/A
Not applicable since same-sex sexual relationships are illegal.
Added by Markissik  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log