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Ø Uganda gay human
rights abuse
Ø Asylum advice
for Gay people
Ø Advice from iglhrc
on Uganda
Ø Testimonies
of Ugandan gay people
Ø U.S
Department of state Country Reports on Human Rights Practices -Uganda
Ø Risk of torture of Ugandan LGBT community
Ø
Illegal
immigrants amnesty call
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Moses Kayiza is a gay asylum seeker who fled Uganda in May
2004.
According to the law, religion and culture in Uganda,
homosexuality is strongly criminalised. The official maximum penalty is life
imprisonment. Yoweri Museveni, the President of Uganda, once proposed
the arrest of all homosexuals - though he subsequently modified his position
and called for a return to the good old days when "these few individuals
were either ignored or speared and killed by their parents".
Moses lived in secret for a number of years as a
young gay man. In 2003 the pressure from Moses' family and tradition mounted
and he succumbed to an arranged marriage. After 13 months of marriage and a
period of separation, Moses' wife returned to their family home and found Moses
with his long-term male partner. Moses' wife reported him to the police, and
on the basis of evidence gathered, the police subsequently arrested Moses. As
is not uncommon in Uganda,
whilst in custody Moses was tortured and sexually abused for 7 days by the
security forces until his escape.
The Adjudicator refused Moses' asylum claim, making
seemingly contradictory remarks; "If, as the appellant says,
homosexuality is illegal and persecuted in Uganda I find it unlikely that on
4 nights in a police station police officers would indulge in it." He
went on to say that "The objective material shows that homosexuality is
still criminalised in Uganda.
However it does appear that little if anything is actually done to enforce
the law".
The United Nations state that sexual violence is a
strategic weapon of war, not just a random act. Moses' arrest and torture in
prison is not unusual in Uganda.
Since the President's comment in 1999, the Minister for Ethics and Integrity
Miria Matembe has ordered the police to arrest and prosecute homosexuals,
adding that she will fight gays until they are wiped out of the country.
Amnesty International has documented cases of homosexuals being tortured in Uganda,
and Moses' own medical evidence supports his own experience of torture.
Moses is not in a position go back into the closet
if he were forced to return to Uganda. He has previously been
arrested and tortured, and the police continue to hold evidence of his
homosexuality including a photo of him and his partner. Moses' wife's father
used to be the official in charge of police matters at the Ministry of
Justice, and was responsible for the original police involvement - he is
likely to use his influence in the security forces again if Moses returns.
Since coming to the UK Moses has settled in the Manchester area, and
made many friends in the local gay community. He is an active volunteer with
Manchester Refugee Action and the George House Trust, alongside pursuing his
studies. The pressure of his asylum case and fear of being returned to
Uganda, on top of the psychological pressure from his experiences of torture,
lead to him being hospitalised under section 2 of the Mental Health Act. He
was in hospital during the period when he could have lodged an appeal to
tribunal.
ø September 1999 president Yoweri Museveni instructed Ugandan police to lock
up and charge homosexuals.
ø In October 1999 five members of the newly formed organisation, Right
Companion, were arrested and deported to so-called 'safe houses.' One of the
activists was raped twice, all were beaten.
ø June 2000, Ugandan police cover up the murder of a member of
Lesgabix, a lesbian and gay grouping in Kampala.
ø February 2005 - Mr Martin Amogor-Locain, Commissioner for Special Needs
Education, Counselling and Guidance in the Education Ministry "The
spread of homosexuality and lesbianism in secondary boarding schools is
worrying the government. Due to spread of the pervert sexual behaviour
the government is worried about "what might happen to youths in the
country."
How
you can help
Friends and supporters have set up a writing and
Petition campaign to persuade Des Browne, the Minister for Immigration, on
the strength of Moses' links to the community and the community's links to
Moses, and that he should be allowed to remain in the UK.
The campaign has drawn up a Model Letter (attached) which you
could copy/amend, or better still, write your own version with your own
comments. There is also a Petition attached (blank sheets can be
photocopied).
The campaign is asking everyone to make copies of
and sign the Petition and Model Letter (or to write their own), and get as
many other people as possible to do the same, and return them to the campaign
at the below address. When they have collected enough letters and completed
petition sheets, the campaign will get them presented to the Minister for
Immigration, possibly by their local MP.
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