33 transgender activists arrested in Uganda

The Ugandan Revenue Authority was so upset they called the police after learning that trans people were being taught how to survive.

Thirty-three transgender people were arrested Tuesday while attending an NGO sponsored personal sustainability workshop held at Sangalo Beach in eastern Uganda. The featured image has been blurred despite being published by others out of respect for LGBTQI Ugandans who face horrific oppression.

Trumpet News presented this picture of the participants on lunch, assumably as proof of debauchery. By any sane standard, those pictured are serenely walking, talking, and texting much like any human being does.

According to Rwandan media, police charged the 33 with illegal assembly after they “admitted being gay” and attending a transgender workshop. Most of those attending, according to the Trumpet News, ‘admitted to being Rwandans while others are Congolese and a few Ugandans.’

The Ugandan Revenue Authority was so upset they called the police after learning that trans people were being taught how to survive.

Patrick Lule, the arresting officer at Busia police station said  “That some men wanted to be women. They also told us that they are registered NGO operating from Kireka in Kampala,” the officer added.

Police made the arrest after being alerted by a particularly anal Ugandan Revenue Authority (URA) officer. The unnamed agent spied on the group after hearing different languages spoken and was “disturbed by the participants’ behavior during a lunch break.”

“The boys started behaving like women.” Reported Trumpet News “They were all over each other caressing fellow men,” the official was quoted as saying.

This is wrong transphobic reporting by @TrumpetnewsUG . @PoliceUg being transgender is not illegal in Uganda. Trying to turn this into a Rwanda Vs Uganda situation is just wrong. Please let these people go. https://t.co/EEJSUCHhqF @frankmugisha @Opimva @PitchUganda @Phyllees

— Sexual Minorities Uganda | SMUG (@SMUG2004) August 21, 2019

It has since been reported by the Human Rights Awareness and Promotion Forum (HRAPF), that all 33 individuals have since been released following intervention by the organization.

The 33 LGBTIQ people that had been detained at police while attending a workshop at Sangalo Beach in Busia District have been set free. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the members of @PoliceUg who worked with us to achieve this victory. #LoveWins pic.twitter.com/PqefUyhSX8

— Sexual Minorities Uganda | SMUG (@SMUG2004) August 21, 2019

“Our legal team has successfully negotiated the release of 33 transgender persons, who were charged with unlawful assembly before a Grade One Magistrate; after they were arrested yesterday in Busia district, during a training on the SDGs [Sustainable Development Goals],” tweeted the NGO.

The organization added that “We decry the abuse of freedoms of LGBTI persons in Uganda and implore state agencies to respect them.”

Our saviors need help.

Our Executive director Dr Frank says “This case is important for us and the community. We decided to register the organization but this wasn’t successful. We were advised to change our name and objectives but we refused because these are part of our advocacy work.” #SMUGVsURSB pic.twitter.com/GeLdsMbbzQ

— Sexual Minorities Uganda | SMUG (@SMUG2004) August 23, 2019

“I got death threats, my children got death threats.” The reality of life as a transgender activist in Uganda. pic.twitter.com/nbLXdfP2Bs

— BBC World Service (@bbcworldservice) May 23, 2019

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