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Last week, Uganda’s National Bureau for Non-governmental Organizations banned Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG), a prominent lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) rights organization, for not having officially registered with it. SMUG was an organization that provided education about sexuality and advocated for LGBTQ people’s health services before it was banned.
Frank Mugisha, SMUG’s director, informed Human Rights Watch that in 2016 the country’s name registration body, the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), had refused to approve SMUG’s name – which is a requirement to register as a nongovernmental organization. URSB said that registering SMUG’s name would be “undesirable and un-registrable” for a group that advocates for the rights and well-being of LGBTQ people.
This is the latest example of harassment against rights groups in Uganda, particularly those working on LGBTQ rights.
In recent years, police have raided gay-friendly bars and shelters for homeless LGBTQ youth, and arrested activists, subjecting them to forced anal examinations – a form of cruel, degrading, and inhuman treatment that can, in some instances, constitute torture.
In March 2020, police and residents raided the Children of the Sun Foundation. This shelter provides refuge for LGBTQ youth living in Wakiso. They beat and detained 23 people. Twenty people were taken into custody at the shelter. detained by police for over six weeks and were denied access to lawyers. In May 2021, police raided another youth shelter in Wakiso to arrest 44 people. They initially thought they were holding a same sex wedding. Police subjected 17 of the accused to forced anal examinations.
In August 2021, The National Bureau for Non-governmental Organizations indefinitely suspended 54 civil society groups without due process, further restricting the work of rights groups in the country.
The Ugandan government should allow SMUG operation. Instead of intimidating and harassing LGBTQ rights organizations, the government should create an environment that supports their important work and respects their right to free association, in accordance with international standards.
Distributed by APO Group in support of Human Rights Watch (HRW).
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Source: african.business
