The Ugandan Parliament has passed an anti-LGBTQ+ bill that would criminalise even identifying as queer. Daily Maverick spoke to Ugandans about how this might affect their lives and the lives of other community members.

On Tuesday, 21 March, the same day South Africa celebrated Human Rights Day, Uganda's Parliament passed a bill that would facilitate gross human rights violations of the country's queer community. The law aims to punish the promotion of homosexuality and conspiracy to engage in homosexual acts. Although the law was passed in Parliament three weeks ago, it has yet to be signed by President Yoweri Museveni.

Frank Mugisha, a Ugandan LGBTQ+ activist, said in an interview with DemocracyNow that he believes the president is taking his time to sign the bill for many reasons, one of which is that local advocates and civil society are encouraging him not to sign the legislation hurriedly because of the intense backlash and consequences that will follow.

Uganda's anti-LGBTQ+ legislation comes at a time when there seems to be a global uptick in homophobic and transphobic legislation, such as in the US where at least 417 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced this year alone.

In Uganda, hostility towards queerness existed well before the new law was passed, which is not the first to try to codify homophobia in the country.

Natukunda* (a pseudonym, as she chooses to be anonymous)...