Uganda’s Intentional Day Against Homophobia cancelled minutes before it was set to begin

Simon Lokodo, the Ugandan State Minister for Ethics and Integrity, sent men in to halt the country’s International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT) event just minutes before it was set to begin. People at the event were immediately dispersed and told that they were promoting homosexuality, a crime in the African country.

“We had organised an event to commemorate the International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia at SMUG,” said Sexual Minorities Uganda Executive Director Dr. Frank Mugisha. “Unfortunately, it has been interrupted by the Kampala Metropolitan Police and the Minister of Ethics and Integrity. It’s very unfortunate that this kind of harassment continues to happen; in fact it is the reason we organize such events — to try to bring an end to the discrimination of LGBTIQ persons in Uganda.”

This isn’t the first time LGBT+ events have been abruptly cancelled in the country. Police raided an LGBT+ film festival earlier this year, though organises defiantly screened the films after the police left. Pride celebrations have also been banned the last two years in a row, and had to be held in secret.

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