Saturday, June 7, 2008

Ugandan LGBT AIDS Activist Re-arrested and Released, Charges Added

Dear All,

One of the three Ugandan LGBTI activists who was arrested at the HIV/AIDS Implementers' Meeting in Kampala on the 4th of June 2008, was re-arrested
and held for an additional four and a half hours today. In response to demands for his release from his lawyer, the Chairperson of Sexual
Minorities Uganda (SMUG), and UNAIDS, Usaam Mukwaaya was released this afternoon on the condition that he returns to the police on 10 June 2008.

Despite the fact that accredited cards for attendance at the 2008 HIV/AIDS Implementers’ Meeting were given to all three of the LGBTI activists by
the sponsors of the international meeting, the police have refused to drop the charge of criminal trespass against the three activists and have
added a charge of forgery against Mukwaaya today, claiming that he did not have a valid permit for attending the 2008 HIV/AIDS Implementers’
Meeting.

After the release of the three LGBTI AIDS activists yesterday, a collective decision was made by the co-sponsors of the 2008 HIV/AIDS Implementers
meeting to accredit Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG) to attend the meeting. An official letter accompanied by three accredited official cards for
attending the conference was awarded to the LGBTI AIDS activists.

Despite this fact, the police have refused to drop the charges of criminal trespass and forgery. UNAIDS has submitted a statement to the Ugandan
Police indicating that the card was not forged and was issued officially by the sponsors of the meeting.

NOTE: The charges against the three LGBT AIDS activists HAVE NOT BEEN DROPPED and their case is still scheduled to be heard on the 20th of June
2008. Please continue the pressure to request them to drop all
charges against the activists

SEXUAL MINORITIES UGANDA

5 comments:

SGL Café.com said...

My prayers go out to you and all my brothers and sisters who refuse to be second-class citizens.

spiralx said...

Spandau Ballet sang it in the Eighties:

Mother doesn't know where love has gone
She says it must be youth
That keeps us feeling strong
See it in her face, that's turned to ice
And when she smiles she shows
The lines of sacrifice
And now I know what they're saying,
When the sun begins to fade...
And we made our love on wasteland
And through the barricades.

Father made my history
He fought for what he thought
Would set us somehow free
He taught me what to say in school
I learned off by heart
But now that's torn in two
And now I know what they're saying
In the music of the parade...
We made our love on wasteland
And through the barricades.

Born on different sides of life
We feel the same
And feel all of this strife
So come to me when I'm asleep
We'll cross the line!
And dance upon the street!

And now I know what they're saying
When the drums begin to fade -
We made our love on wasteland
And through the barricades.

Oh, turn around and Ill be there
There's a scar through my heart
But I'll bare it again...
I thought - we were the human race?
But we were just another border-line-case
And the stars reach down and tell us
That there's always one escape...

I dont know where love has gone
And in this troubled land
Desperation keep us strong.

Friday's child is "full of soul"
With nothing left to lose
There's everything to go
And now I know what they're are saying
Its a terrible beauty we've made
So we make our love on wasteland
And through the barricades!

Now I know what they're are saying
As hearts go to their graves
We made our love on wasteland
And through the barricades.

gayuganda said...

Thanks Taylorsiluwe.

Spiralx, that is beautiful.

gug

planet trans said...

My prayers are for you and everyone in Uganda who must face this persecution. I attended the United Methodist Conference and witnessed the hard stares and unmovable attitude of many African delegates. They voted down our attempts to obtain spiritual parity. They are good people but have yet to appreciate the gifts we have been blessed with. These activists brought to the worlds attention Uganda's government and the Anglican church's denial of Aids/Hiv prevention and treatment programs for gay men in Uganda
I would like to cross post some of your articles if I may?
Thanks again, Kelli

gayuganda said...

Hi Kelli,

welcome.

cross post. Some are actually picked from other places so accreditation may be necessary.

And thanks a lot for the prayers.

gug

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