Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) is deeply concerned about recent manifestations of intolerance against homosexuals in Uganda.
On 10 September, Oundo George and Kiiza, both members of the LGBTI community, were arbitrarily detained. Until yesterday, 18 September, they were held at Nabweru Police Station. The two have now been ordered to present themselves at the police station again on 24 September. It is not known if any charge will be brought against the two, as during their detention, neither of them appeared before a court in accordance with the 48-hour constitutional limit on detention.
David Kato, a human rights defender and member of the LGBTI community himself, has been informed that the police are looking to detain him as well.
HRHF urges Ugandan authorities to
- to observe their primary responsibility to protect all their citizens, without exception.
- not to raise charges against George Oundo and Kiiza, but rather investigate the grounds for their arbitrary detention, as it is believed that these measures were taken against them solely because of their sexual and gender identity.
- to safeguard all members of the LGBTI community from harassment, threats and violence, and, under the circumstances, provide David Kato with particular protection.
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