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I call upon all those than still have some humanity in them to rise up and fight for all marginalized LGBT people across the world.” VictorMukasa,Feb 5 2014

By Cathy Kristofferson, February 6, 2014

Tuesday the Kuchu Diaspora Alliance(KDA) protested in front of the D.C. Ugandan Embassy against the recently passed Anti-Homosexuality Bill (AHB) along with the persecution of the Ugandan LGBT community back home that ensued. We reported that action here on OBLOGDEE up to the point where the Embassy staff had left the three who went inside waiting to speak with the Ambassador. After a while it turned out, the kuchus were told the Ambassador was too busy to see them. I wondered how that made them feel their expectations suddenly dashed. They were kind enough to shared their views. The KDA is now seeking an appointment by written request.

Robert Karemire:

“We will not rest until everyone is free. We will keep pushing until that bill is dead. Protesting at the Ugandan Embassy yesterday, I could not stop thinking about my brothers and sisters back home in Uganda. Let more of us get out of our comfort zones and act on behalf of LGBT Ugandans. Aluta Continua!”

Victor Mukasa:

“The KDA protest yesterday evoked several emotions within me. As I addressed the officials at the embassy, I saw the freedom of my colleagues in the hands of a few merciless people. I pleaded as though it was the only chance I had. After the protest, Robert Karemire, Sentamu Kiremera and myself requested to see the ambassador. The officials, without hesitation, let us in and directed us to their comfortable waiting area. For me it was like being home in Uganda in my living room. On TV was a Ugandan music show. Our national emblem up on the wall on the other side of the room. A picture of our president hung above us. The embassy officials spoke with us in our local languages. I missed home, Uganda. Right there I felt very proud to be Ugandan. I felt like I wanted to be back home to help with building our nation.

We were told that the ambassador was in and that they were going to ask her to come down and chat with us. An official came down and informed us that the ambassador was busy and could not see us. I felt so disappointed. It hit me again that I am not even needed in Uganda. That I was driven out of my motherland unwillingly. That the US religious right is so merciless and heartless that they can lead to the suffering of so many people in Africa and yet sit and live with it comfortably in the US. That my brothers and sisters in Uganda and elsewhere in Africa are living in fear and suffering because they are the casualty of power struggles. That my transgender sister, Brenda Kizza, has been in detention for more than ten days and now finally in prison for being transgender in Uganda. Then I got furious and am still very furious. I am going to fight more than before. I call upon all those than still have some humanity in them to rise up and fight for all marginalized LGBT people across the world. Let’s do whatever we can do without violence. Let’s keep angry until everyone is free. Let’s all do something for a LGBT person in Uganda on February 10. Let’s fight hard for LGBT Nigerians, Zambians, Ethiopians, Russians, Jamaicans; the list is endless. Let us fight for justice and equality more than we have done before.

Arise everyone, Arise!”

This coming Monday there is a Global Call To Action to demand that President Museveni and the Ugandan Parliament kill the AHB for good. I know that Victor will be heading back to the Ugandan Embassy in D.C. What will you do?

Monday, February 10, 2014
Where: Globally
Description: CALL TO ACTION: 10th February 2014
Global Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1393461854247237
D.C. Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/578141028942599