We were pleased to learn that the group of LGBT persons detained in Uganda as result of the misuse of COVID-19 protocol as have been released. Executive Director of the HRAPF had the following to say. @ILGAWORLD @TRF_Stories @76Crimes pic.twitter.com/XACIzoyoKm
— Pan Africa ILGA (@PanAfricaILGA) May 18, 2020

Nineteen gay men and trans women who were arrested in a raid on an LGBTIQ shelter in Uganda in March are finally free after charges against them were dropped.

On Monday, the director of public prosecutions officially withdrew all charges against the traumatised individuals who’d been refused bail and access to their lawyers for 50 days. In response, the group was released by the Nsangi Magistrates’ Court.

“I’m elated about today’s court victory,” commented Dr Frank Mugisha, Executive Director of SMUG (Sexual Minorities Uganda). “We are now tasked with getting them medical treatment, psycho-social support and a safe place to stay.”

The group’s release followed a victory on 14 May for SMUG and the Human Rights Awareness and Promotion Forum (HRAPF) in the High Court which ordered the authorities to grant lawyers reasonable access to the 19. On 15 May, lawyers from HRAPF were finally able to meet with the jailed victims. HRAPF reported that they were in good spirits, although most were sick with diarrhoea, typhoid and other infections which had not been treated. Some were also unable to access their HIV anti-retroviral treatment.

Led by the Mayor of Nsangi Municipality, the Children of the Sun Foundation’s shelter for homeless LGBTIQ youth in the town of Kyengera was raided by residents and security forces on 29 March.

While the authorities claimed that the raid was due the individuals illegally gathering under the country’s coronavirus lockdown regulations, activists and the men’s lawyers said that this was an excuse to target LGBTIQ people.