Two women arrested in Uganda for allegedly kissing in public could face life in prison

Two women have been arrested in Uganda for allegedly kissing in public, which could result in a life prison sentence.

Wendy Faith, 22, and Alesi Diana, 21, were arrested last week by the authorities in Arua, a city in the northwest of Uganda, as per coverage by The Guardian.

“Information was received from the community that the suspects have been involved in queer and unusual acts believed to be sexual in nature, besides being allegedly seen kissing each other in broad daylight,” police spokesperson for the West Nile region, Josephine Angucia, is quoted as saying.

“It’s further alleged […] that many ladies normally converge to stay at the suspects’ residence,” Angucia continued. “It is upon that information that police acted by arresting the two female suspects under the allegation of practicing homosexuality.”

Faith, a musician known who goes by the name Torrero Bae, and Diana reportedly remain in custody and it is unclear when they will be charged.

The women’s arrest comes nearly three years after the East African nation passed its draconian Anti-Homosexuality Act – which immediately became one of the strictest pieces of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in the world when it was signed into law.

The legislation reinforced punishments for LGBTQ+ people living in the country, where both same-sex sexual acts and the ability to speak openly about queer topics were already illegal.

The Act doubled down on this cruelty because while life imprisonment for homosexuality is still a sentence it also introduced the new offence of ‘aggravated homosexuality’ – which carries the death penalty.

Offences defined as ‘aggravated homosexuality’ include sexual activity with disabled people, those who are HIV positive and people aged 75 and over – with consent to the sexual act not constituting a defence to a charge. This category also applies to criminal offences such as rape of a child or adult and incest.

Further to this, ‘attempted homosexuality’ is also punishable, with a sentence of up to 10 years in prison possible while ‘attempted aggravated homosexuality’ can be met with up to 14 years imprisonment.

Commenting on the case of Faith and Diana, Frank Mugisha, executive director at Sexual Minorities Uganda, said the organisation is “closely following” the situation and are “deeply alarmed” by their arrest.

“This incident is unjust and deeply troubling, and it is not an isolated case,” Mugisha said.

Mugisha explained: “In recent months, we have seen a sharp and disturbing increase in similar incidents across the country, where people are being reported, targeted, harassed and arrested based solely on allegations about their identity or relationships.

“The consequences for these two individuals are severe.

“They are already being judged and condemned by society, and cases like this send a chilling message to LGBTQ+ people across the country that their safety and dignity are under threat.”

In January, ahead of the country’s election, various human rights organisations which support LGBTQ+ people in the East African nation were forced to close, including Chapter Four Uganda.

The organisation, which is dedicated to the protection of civil liberties and promotion of human rights – including LGBTQ+ rights – in Uganda, had its operating permit suspended with immediate effect by the National Bureau for Non-Governmental Organisations under the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Kechukwu Uzoma, senior staff attorney at the Kennedy Human Rights Center, condemned the closure.

“The weaponisation of vague laws and attacks on the right to freedom of association during electoral periods directly violate the right to vote,” Uzoma said.

“Such repressive actions undermine the integrity of elections and weaken democracy at its core. All stakeholders, including the African Union, must act now.”