Masaka is governed by federal Uganda law. Learn more
- Homosexuality
- ⚢✖ Illegal (death penalty as punishment)
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✖ Banned
- Censorship
- ✖ Imprisonment as punishment
- Changing Gender
- Ambiguous
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✖ Banned
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Hate Crime Protections
- ✖ No protections
- Discrimination
- ✖ Illegal in some contexts
- Employment Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Housing Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Adoption
- ✖ Illegal
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- ✖ Not banned
- Military
- ✖ Illegal
- Donating Blood
- ✖ Banned (indefinite deferral)
- Bathroom Access
- ✖ Restricted (enforced with penalties or fines)
- Conversion Therapy
- ✖ Not banned
- Age of Consent
- N/A
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Public Opinion
Masaka is lacking public opinion data.
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Homosexual activity in Masaka 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Illegal (imprisonment as punishment) under federal Uganda law
Until 1902
Legal under federal Uganda law
In precolonial Uganda, homosexuality was not criminalised. In fact, the last precolonial ruler of the Kingdom of Baganda, Mwanga II, was bisexual.
Same-sex marriage in Masaka is banned.
Current status
Since May 29, 2023
Banned
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.
Censorship of LGBT issues in Masaka is imprisonment as punishment.
Current status
Since May 29, 2023
Imprisonment as punishment
As of May 29, 2023, the Anti-Homosexuality Act punishes the "promotion" of homosexuality with up to 20 years in prison.
State-enforced
Since 2012, Uganda has been cracking down on organisations advocating for LGBTIQ+ rights and arresting activists.
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”.
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”.
Right to change legal gender in Masaka is ambiguous.
Current status
Since Mar 26, 2015
Ambiguous
In Uganda, transgender people do not have the ability to change their legal gender.
However, in 2015, the Registration of the Persons Act was passed. Article 38 states that if an intersex child is registered as either male or female and then has an operation to change from "a female to a male or from a male to a female" then it is possible for the child's legal sex to be changed.
However, in 2015, the Registration of the Persons Act was passed. Article 38 states that if an intersex child is registered as either male or female and then has an operation to change from "a female to a male or from a male to a female" then it is possible for the child's legal sex to be changed.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Masaka is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
In Uganda, non-binary people do not have the ability to legally identify as such on official documentation.
Hate crime protections in Masaka is no protections.
Current status
No protections
Uganda has no hate crime protections for sexual orientation nor gender identity.
LGBT employment discrimination in Masaka is no protections.
Current status
No protections
In Uganda, neither sexual orientation nor gender identity is a protected class from employment discrimination.
LGBT housing discrimination in Masaka is no protections.
Current status
No protections
In Uganda, neither sexual orientation nor gender identity is a protected class from housing discrimination.
Same-sex adoption in Masaka is illegal.
Current status
Illegal
No laws in place for same sex couples.
Intersex infant surgery in Masaka is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
There is no ban on intersex infant surgery in Uganda.
Serving openly in military in Masaka 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.
Blood donations by MSMs in Masaka is banned (indefinite deferral).
Current status
Banned (indefinite deferral)
The National Institutes of Health states that MSMs (men who have sex with men) are at a high risk of HIV, effectively barring them from donating blood.
Bathroom access in Masaka is restricted (enforced with penalties or fines).
Conversion therapy in Masaka is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
According to the ILGA World, there's no ban on conversion therapy in Uganda.
Equal age of consent in Masaka is n/a.
Current status
Since 1902
N/A under federal Uganda law
Not applicable since same-sex sexual relationships are illegal.
Legal Rights
3 / 100
This region's Equality Index is based on legal rights alone. Please submit survey results that show the public opinion of LGBTQ+ issues in Masaka to help improve its accuracy.
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Masaka LGBT Organizations
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