Uganda Police has announced a UGX 10 million reward for anyone providing information leading to the capture of 13 individuals who escaped during a police raid on an LGBTQ+ house party in Muyenga, a suburb of Kampala, on February 8, 2024.

The raid, which targeted a gathering primarily attended by university students identifying as homosexual, resulted in the arrest of 17 individuals.

Those arrested were taken to Kabalagala Police Station, where reports indicate they were subjected to severe mistreatment and physical abuse by law enforcement officers.

According to SP Fred Enanga the Police Spokesperson, the raid was part of an effort to enforce the controversial Anti-Homosexuality Act, which has faced strong criticism locally and internationally. However, the brutal treatment of those detained has raised concerns about the abuse of human rights.

“The LGBTQ+ gathering was seen as a safe space for the community to socialize and express themselves freely, but it was abruptly interrupted by the police raid,” Isaac Ssemakadde, a human rights lawyer said.

As the crackdown continues, the police have intensified their search for the escapees, fueling fear among Uganda’s LGBTQ+ community, which is already facing significant persecution under the country’s strict anti-gay laws.

This incident has drawn widespread condemnation from human rights groups, with activists calling for the immediate release of the detainees and urging the international community to pressure Uganda to repeal its anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.

The raid has only added to the growing concerns over the treatment of sexual minorities in the country, where being part of the LGBTQ+ community can result in life imprisonment or worse under the law.

The police bounty for information leading to the capture of the escapees reflects the severity with which Uganda continues to enforce its anti-LGBTQ+ laws, despite international outcry over the human rights violations that have followed since the Anti-Homosexuality Act was passed.

Recently, Uganda’s Parliament passed the Anti-Homosexuality Act, which imposes severe penalties, including life imprisonment and the death penalty for certain homosexual acts. The law has drawn strong criticism from human rights organizations and the international community, who argue it promotes discrimination and violence against sexual minorities.

Despite this, the Ugandan government has continued to enforce the law strictly, with the police raid on the Muyenga house party being one of the latest incidents reflecting the escalating crackdown on LGBTQ+ individuals.