PERREAULT Magazine NOV | DEC 2016 | Page 18

LGBTIQ people in many regions live under fear of extrajudicial violence and threat of mob justice, unable to report acts of hate violence due to unsympathetic and hostile justice systems.

On August 4th at a nightclub in Kampala, members of the Ugandan LGBTIQ community celebrating a Pride event had their festivities abruptly interrupted by an intrusion from law enforcement. Over the course of the next several hours, multiple attendees were assaulted, one person was injured after attempting to escape out a fourth-story window, and nearly 20 were arrested and taken into custody for further questioning. Officers stated that they were responding to reports of a “gay wedding”—that the gathering was unlawful (this despite the organizers having been granted prior permission). While all present were eventually released without charges, such is much of the relationships of the Ugandan authorities to the LGBTIQ community: violence, aggression, and intimidation.