Uganda’s fifth annual LGBT Pride celebration has just been raided by the police, who halted the Mr. and Mrs. Pride Pageant, a popular event during the weeklong festivities.
We have word that #UgandaPride has been raided by the police. Confiscating cell phones and deleting images from them. #Uganda #Pride
— Global Ally (@Global_Ally) August 4, 2016
Police interrupts Mr and miss pride pageant calm is being restored @KashaJacqueline @SMUG2004 .we remain strong Faith
— KuchuTimes (Q-Times) (@KuchuTimes) August 4, 2016
Frank Mugisha and Pepe Onziema, leaders of Sexual Minorities Uganda, were arrested during the raid.
I am arrested by Ugandan police
— Dr. Frank Mugisha (@frankmugisha) August 4, 2016
Around 20 to 25 people were reportedly arrested and released, and faced violence from police while being taken into custody.
Authorities claimed the event was held without proper authorization, a claim organizers deny.
“There’s no way we would hold an event without a clearance,” Onziema told BuzzFeed. “They don’t care as long as the word homosexuality is mentioned. As soon as that is mentioned, everything else ceases and [police feel they] have to act.”
In 2012 the first Uganda Pride was also raided.
Kuchu Times, Africa’s first online news platform focusing on LGBT issues, has been live-tweeting the latest developments.
We are all waiting on police to tell us what to do next. This is a recap of 2012 @KashaJacqueline @Prideuganda2016 pic.twitter.com/c2V8DQAM7W
— KuchuTimes (Q-Times) (@KuchuTimes) August 4, 2016
Police interrupts Mr and miss pride pageant calm is being restored @KashaJacqueline @SMUG2004 .we remain strong Faith
— KuchuTimes (Q-Times) (@KuchuTimes) August 4, 2016
Police rounds up all e attendees of Mr and miss pride. Says e gathering is illegal since homosexuality z a crime in uganda @KashaJacqueline
— KuchuTimes (Q-Times) (@KuchuTimes) August 4, 2016
Police claims gathering was a gay wedding @Prideuganda2016 @KashaJacqueline @SMUG2004 @Icebreakers_UG
— KuchuTimes (Q-Times) (@KuchuTimes) August 4, 2016
Police are reportedly not letting attendees leave the club where the event was taking place:
We are all currently locked inside the club by the police after breaking up Mr and miss @Prideuganda2016 @nickopiyo @hrapf_uganda
— KuchuTimes (Q-Times) (@KuchuTimes) August 4, 2016
People being beaten by Police are crying loudly. Many are panicking trying to remove wigs n clothes while on the ground. #UGPride2016
— King Godiva (@amgodiva) August 4, 2016
People taking off make up, wigs, trying to look "normal". Police are targeting anyone who looks "weird." #UGPride2016
— King Godiva (@amgodiva) August 4, 2016
Police calls media to take pictures. Unnecessary outings. People being beaten @KashaJacqueline @Prideuganda2016 @SMUG2004
— KuchuTimes (Q-Times) (@KuchuTimes) August 4, 2016
All decor brought down. Claims of someone jumping off balcony in fear making rounds. @KashaJacqueline @SMUG2004 @chapter4uganda
— KuchuTimes (Q-Times) (@KuchuTimes) August 4, 2016
After rounding up attendees, police allowed them to leave.
Mr n miss pride attendes slowly trickle out of venue.Glad we r safe,nw let's gt our activists out of jail @Prideuganda2016 @KashaJacqueline
— KuchuTimes (Q-Times) (@KuchuTimes) August 4, 2016
The country’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill—which called for repeat offenders to be sentenced to 14 years in prison—was struck down by Uganda’s Constitutional Court on procedural grounds in 2014, though homosexuality is still illegal in the country.
Below, one activist describes the situation for LGBT people in the country.