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Julian Pepe, Co-chairperson of Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG), reports on the 2007 Commonwealth Peoples' Space November 23, 2007 LGBTs and allies publicly protest LGBT discrimination. SMUG, officially invited by British Council, is bared at the last minute from participating at the Peoples' Space, Kampala, Uganda. |
For two photos and print version of this report in its original form click here. |
SMUG is invited by British Council to participate in the Commonwealth Peoples' Space
- For the event of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2007
Uganda, Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG) lobbied for an opportunity to participate and were
invited by British Council to the Commonwealth Peoples' Space (an event of CHOGM) to
participate in a scheduled meeting for Friday November 24, 2007.
- SMUG invited representatives from Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Kenya (GALCK) and Horizon
Community Association (HOCA) and other LGBTI people to join us in this space.
Today, East African homosexuals came in peace to CHOGM to speak as citizens of the
Commonwealth. Ugandan and Kenyan lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT)
speakers were scheduled to address the public at the CHOGM Peoples' Space, Speaker’s
Corner.
- The Peoples' Space was designed to provide opportunities to share in the diversity and
richness of the Commonwealth people and was specifically designated as a space open to all
people to interact and influence social change.
- Although we were scheduled for Friday, SMUG received another invitation to a film festival
from a non-LGBT film organisation in Kampala, Uganda, called Amakula. On Thursday
November 23, 2007 we attended the two films addressing homosexual issues and later had a
decent and lively discussion/debate between LGBTI people and the public present including
two key religious people. The tent was so packed that other interested or curious people
peeped over shoulders.
anti-gay pastor, Martin Ssempa
- Friday November 24, 2007 16:30 was meant to be the day for East African sexual minorities.
We walked in at 12:45, our speakers clad in black T. Shirt with the words “Sexual Minorities
Uganda Embraces CHOGM”. We were this early because we wanted to acquaint ourselves
with the space before our presentation. In the crowds were some elements that identified us
because of the T-shirts and messages on them. As we walked to claim safe space, we ran into
a prominent anti-gay pastor, Martin Ssempa, who heads the Inter-Faith Rainbow Coalition
against Homosexuality. He said “hello” and hell broke loose. In less than 5 minutes we were
surrounded by people who shouted and ridiculed us as cameras flickered and recorders
pointed at us. An elderly woman asked; “Would you be here today had your mother been a
lesbian…” Pastor Ssempa gave a devilish smile as other twentysomethings of his brigade from
Makerere University yelled and shouted; “You don’t deserve to be on earth, not here!!
Lesbians, lesbians… Where is security? Police, security take them away and lock them up…”
film festival (which attracted crowds around the topic of homosexuality), SMUG had been
pulled from the People's Space program (without having communicated this program change
to SMUG)
- Next, the manager of the Space, Anne, pulled the Co-chairperson of SMUG, Julian Pepe, away
and took her to the reception to only receive bad news from organizers.
“We’re sorry but the programme has changed. You had your time yesterday so you can’t
proceed as planned because you’re attracting a lot of attention and you will divert the people
from Prince Charles who is coming in at 15:00...” the organizers chorused.
Pepe was shocked and disheartened; “Why didn’t you communicate? How do you expect me to
tell my people that we have come for nothing...?” She was given a copy of the programme and
our presentation was not there.
Security escorts LGBTs off the premises of Peoples' Space. LGBTs claim "space" outside
- With a heavy heart Pepe went and pulled Victor out of the mammoth crowd and gave her the
bad news. Before we knew it, we were being escorted out by both plain clothed and uniformed
security. We felt safe being escorted by them (because the same plain clothed security had
protected us the day before) until we approached the exit. Then their tone changed. They
gave us 10 minutes to leave the premises of the Peoples' Space. That’s when we took up
space outside and made it ours. There was exchange between the security guards outside
and members of SMUG and GALCK. Whoever was identified inside was immediately thrown
out. Kasha was literally held by the arms by two guards and thrown out.
Amakula protest, too, in support
- Victor Juliet Mukasa, the former chairperson of SMUG, told those who felt they could not
handle the waiting and protest, to leave immediately. Those who took the space outside were:
Nikki Mawanda, Kasha Jacqueline, Georgina, Pouline Kimani, Leenah Najib, Victor J. Mukasa,
Maniriho Emma and Julian Pepe. We made it clear that unless we were let in or given a proper
explanation, we were not leaving. Some of us sat down in protest as others made phone calls
to allies like Amnesty International, IGLHRC, East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders,
etc. Some of our members who stayed inside were; Frank Mugisha co-chairperson SMUG,
Sheila, Brian, Naome (HOCA), Gerald, David, Sandra, Sharifah, Thomas and others were
ridiculed. Some members of Amakula were locked out too for speaking to us. Amakula
showcases African cinema. It is known for its celebration of African talent, professionalism,
human diversity, and creativity. The police continued their aggressive affront.
- Pepe was warned by police for taking pictures. In a split second, Victor was pushed to the
ground and kicked to get up by one of the uniformed police and Alice Smits the Co-ordinator
of Amakula Film Festival was grabbed by the throat for filming us.
“They threw me down,” Victor said bitterly, “Kasha who came back to help me up, faced it
rough. She was caned on the back for doing so.” She stood her ground and declared: “I am
not moving a single step from this place”.
participants claim
- “Six policemen in uniform came to us saying that they had orders from higher authorities that
we should leave the place immediately. I told them they had no right to violate our rights to be
in this space,” agitated Georgina (a member of Queer Youth Uganda) noted.
Kasha: “This is crazy! The word ‘people’ officially lost meaning today. They’re plainly saying we’
re not people”
Pouline from GALCK was disgusted; “Police brutality, public discrimination of any individual is
unconstitutional. My experience at the Peoples' Space clearly shows the need for our
governments to support explicit fundamental human rights for all. Peoples' Space should have
had the unsaid quote ‘out of bound for African homosexuals’”
- Frank Mugisha, co-chairperson of SMUG, who managed to get in had this to say: “I was in
there, but someone came and whispered over my shoulder that I better leave because I’m
being looked for. I did just that and joined you out here. Paul and I moved around looking for
international press to inform them of what was happening to LGBTI people in this space.” Paul
a medic who cares about our issues said he was pointed at and called a lesbian.
- The most aggressive policeman was identified as Eric Ociti. Those who violated us were
immediately taken off the scene.
Other security comes and intervenes to stop the beatings
- “One of the top security officials in plain clothes came and stopped them from beating us up.
Those who were violent were immediately taken away and others brought to keep around us”
Victor added.
“On Thursday, this same group was part of a discussion about homosexual rights after a film
screening about homosexuality and discrimination. Yesterday, the debate was heated but
there were no fights. It was really good,” Alice Smits said. “It was the first time a real debate
about homosexuality happened in Uganda.”
- Naome of HOCA said: “Over the years our society has been subjected to diversity, the
greatest of all being the violation of fundamental human rights at CHOGM, even with the
presence of numerous heads of States. LGBTI people were denied the right of being with
others at the forum that they so-call ‘Peoples' Space’…”
We remained standing outside the gate in quiet protest, waiting to be allowed back in to deliver
our speeches. What was supposed to be one of the greatest moments in our struggle became
a disappointment. We were there for a total of seven hours, bitterly disappointed and
embarrassed. Adding to the discrimination and violence carried out by police at the Peoples'
Space was an affront to basic human rights in Uganda.
Both homosexuals and straight Ugandans are increasingly becoming fed up with the violence
and discrimination being directed toward people of different sexual orientations and minorities
in this country. Heterosexual Ugandans have begun to speak out against such police brutality,
stating that they will not tolerate any kind of violence against another human being, regardless
of their sexual orientation.
- After futile attempts to secure entrance, Pepe went to one of the media houses, The Daily
Monitor. Georgina and Victor also did exclusive interviews with The New Vision newspaper to
have these violations exposed. But were told that the articles would not be out immediately.
These people need to be enlightened
- On a lighter note, the term homosexual was not in use this day. Whoever the public suspected
to be homosexual, male or female, was called a lesbian. These people need to be enlightened.
SMUG PO Box 70208, CT-KAMPALA Uganda, East Africa Tel: +256 312 296 Email: info@.sexualminoritiesuganda.org |
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For a related news article: Gays and clergy clash in Uganda at Peoples' Space Drama ensued on Thursday when the Catholic and Anglican clergymen, who were condemning gays, sat next to pro-gay people who were watching a film on homosexuality. By Josephine Maseruka, The New Vision, Kampala, Uganda November 23, 2007 CLICK HERE |