6. UGANDA
• Full name: Republic of Uganda
• Population: 32.7 million (UN, 2009)
• Capital: Kampala, population 1.4 million
• Major languages: English (official), Swahili (official) Luganda, various Bantu
and Nilotic languages
• Life expectancy: 52 years (men), 53 years (women) (UN)
• Main exports: Coffee, fish and fish products, tea; tobacco, cotton, corn, beans,
sesame
• 52% of the population live on less than $1.25 per day
• 60% of the population have access to clean, safe water
• 1 million people living with HIV
8. HISTORY
Early Uganda: Earliest inhabitants were hunter-gathers. Approximately 2000 to 1500
years ago, Bantu speaking populations from central and western Africa migrated and
occupied most of the southern parts of the country. Migrants brought with them
agriculture, ironworking skills and new ideas of social and political organization that
resulted in the development of centralized kingdoms, including the kingdoms of
Buganda, Bunyoro-Kitara and Ankole in around the 15th-16th century.
Colonial Uganda: In 1894, after the British “sphere of interest” expanded into East
Africa, Uganda was placed under a formal British protectorate.
Early Independent Uganda: Britain granted independence to Uganda in 1962, and the
first elections were held on March 1, 1961. Uganda became a republic the following
year when it gained its independence on October 9, 1962, then acquiring its
Commonwealth membership. In February 1966, Prime Minister Apollo Milton Obote
suspended the constitution and assumed all government powers, removing the positions
of president and vice president. In September 1967, a new constitution proclaimed
Uganda a republic, gave the president even greater powers, and abolished the
traditional kingdoms.
9. HISTORY
Uganda Under Idi Amin Dada: On January 25, 1971, Obote's
government was overthrown in a military coup led by armed forces
commander Idi Amin Dada. Amin declared himself 'president,'
dissolved the parliament, and amended the constitution to give
himself absolute power. In the 8 years of his rule, Idi Amin was
responsible for economic decline, social disintegration, and massive
human rights violations. In 1978, the International Commission of
Jurists estimated that more than 100,000 Ugandans had been
murdered during Amin's reign of terror; some authorities place the
figure as high as 300,000. In October 1978, Tanzanian armed forces
countered an incursion of Amin's troops into Tanzanian territory.
The Tanzanian army, backed by Ugandan exile, waged a war of
liberation against Amin's troops and the Libyan soldiers sent to help
him. On April 11, 1979, Kampala was captured, and Amin fled with
his remaining forces.
10. HISTORY
1979-1986: After Amin's removal, the Uganda National Liberation Front
formed an interim government, and Uganda was ruled by a military
commission. The December 1980 elections returned presidential leadership
to President Milton Obote. Under Obote, the security forces had one of the
world's worst human rights records. In trying to end an insurgency led by
Yoweri Museveni's National Resistance Army (NRA), they destroyed a
substantial section of the country, especially in the Luwero area north of
Kampala.
Post-Liberation War: Negotiations between the Okello government and the
NRA were conducted in 1985. Although agreeing in late 1985 to a cease-fire,
the NRA continued fighting, and seized Kampala and the country in late
January 1986, forcing Okello's forces to flee north into Sudan. Museveni's
forces organized a government with Museveni as president, a position he has
held ever since. Since assuming power, the National Resistance Movement
(NRM or the "Movement"), has largely put an end to the human rights abuses
of earlier governments, initiated political liberalization and general freedom
of the press, and established broad economic reforms.
11. LIMITATIONS TO
RESEARCH
Many transgender people do not “come out” due to fear of violence
Ugandan society has silenced those willing to speak up due to
patriarchal views, strict gender roles, and identity as a mostly Christian
nation
Resources in Uganda are limited and authorities often illegally shut
down or prevent transgender organizations from operating
Legislation is currently considering a bill that would allow the death
penalty for anyone supporting or identifying as a member of the
LGBTQI community
12. GENDER & SEXUALITY
Patriarchal society - women have lower social status
Fairly rigid gender roles - man as provider and women as homemaker/caretaker
Polygyny commonly (unofficially) practiced
Christianity (84%) and Islam (12%)
One of the poorest nations in the world, although poverty has been decreasing since
1986
Coalition for Advancement of Moral Values (CAMOVA) (similar to Family Research
Council/National Organization of Marriage in the U.S.) puts out documents filled with
erroneous “facts” about homosexuals and transgender individuals (see link to one such
document in resources section)
Pastor Martin Ssempa is an outspoken advocate against the LGBTQI community and
also spreads false information (similar to the U.S. Westboro Baptist Church in his
approach - see video in resources section)
13. GENDER & SEXUALITY
Abasiyazi - stigmatized term to refer to homosexuals in
Uganda (also kyafoco and eyumayuma)
Members of the community prefer to be called “kuchu”
Little awareness of the distinction between homosexuals and
transgender individuals
Crossing gender roles (in transgender or homosexual
community) often elicits violence from others
14. PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE
FROM UGANDA
Hi Meg,
It's a pleasure to communicate to you...
Meg I know little about transgender...is it like homosexuality,
lesbian life or gay life???...
All I know here in Uganda is that...Homosexuality is illegal and
Uganda is a devoted Christian Country and our motto is clear
that..."FOR GOD AND MY COUNTRY" If such people exist in Uganda then
they are living illegally and I'm sorry to tell you that I don't know one of them
if they are here in Uganda...Please Meg this is the fact
and I know some of your friends here in Uganda won't tell you this and they
will hide the fact, but believe me this life is illegal in
Uganda.
Anyway I am sorry Meg if I have hurt you, but I am just telling
you the reality here in Uganda. If there is any question, feel free
and ask, it's ok with me.
Thanks,
GOD BLESS YOU.
16. TRADITIONAL GENDER
ROLES & CUSTOMS
Patriarchal society
Women do domestic work and men provide for the family
Clan identity is important, determined by father’s descent
Rejection by one’s clan is one of the harshest punishments
Any wrong-doing is attributed to the whole clan
Marriage and family considered vital to the continuation of their society
Divorce rare in traditional marriages, with some exceptions
Married people have a higher social status than unmarried
Polygyny: Men with multiple wives even more respected
Women do not inherit property, forced to marry to survive
Dowry paid in exchange for bride
Inter-clan marriage looked down upon, seen as incest
Pre-marital pregnancy punishable by death for women
17. MODERN UGANDA
Increased urbanization and changing socioeconomic
conditions
Leads to changing gender roles and more monogamous and
inter-clan marriage, divorce, pre-marital sex, single mothers,
and cohabitation
Courtship and marriage becoming more westernized
Men still hold most of the power, but women are becoming
more educated and entering the workforce
Women also gaining more power in the home since men are
often forced to leave their homes to find work
18. EXISTENCE OF A THIRD SEX
Some tribes traditionally recognized gender variance
Transgender people given special spiritual status
The Baganda
Female-born priests transform their gender through the god Mukasa, fully adopting
masculine gender identity and expression
The Lango
“jo apele/jo aboich”: males spiritually transformed into women
Believed to come from the god Jok and delivered oracles
Took women’s names, dressed as women, “simulated menstruation,” and married men
The Lugbara
Transgender mediums who were messengers between the human and spirit worlds
Male-born okule: “like women”
Female-born agule: “like men”
19. TRANSGENDER PEOPLE TODAY
Despite traditional recognition of gender variance,
transgender people in modern Uganda face significant
discrimination and oppression
Transgender people experience high rates of violence,
police harassment, family rejection, and HIV
20. HEALTH CARE
There are very few formal services for medical transitioning, especially
surgery
Access to hormones depends on income, and it’s difficult for transgender
people to find work
Most do not medically transition and are instead read as effeminate gay
men or butch lesbians
Transgender people are sometimes denied health care when taken to
hospitals, even for non-gender related health care
Essentially no research on the medical and mental health care of
transgender people in Uganda, so little is known about it
Health care mostly done in secret to protect the transgender patient
Suffer from high rates of HIV from sex work and/or unsafe transitioning
practices
21. SOCIAL & ECONOMIC ISSUES
The general public in Uganda has little understanding about the differences
between transgenderism and homosexuality
Transgender people are often read as homosexual
Due to homophobia and transphobia, it is difficult for transgender people to find
jobs
Many turn to sex work to make money
When someone transitions, they often have to leave their family and city behind to
start a new life somewhere else
Many do not transition due to lack of access to hormones/surgery, fear of bringing
shame on their family, fear of violence and discrimination, and not wanting to
leave their whole life behind
22. ANTI-HOMOSEXUALITY BILL
Homosexuality is illegal in Uganda, sentence up to 14 years in prison
A bill was proposed in 2009 that would expand the sentence to life
imprisonment, and even the death sentence for repeat offenders, people
with HIV, and people who have sex with a minor
Furthermore, people who are aware that someone is a homosexual can be
arrested and put in jail for not reporting them within 24 hours
The bill has not passed, but LGBTQ groups in Uganda are concerned
about citizens taking the law into their own hands and attacking LGBTQ
Ugandans
Due to a lack of understanding about the differences between gender
identity and sexual orientation, transgender people are also targeted by
this bill
24. RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR PROFESSIONALS
Professionals should
Learn how to be competent regarding the existence of
intersex conditions
Convey possible outcomes in a nonjudgmental manner
Utilize affirmative psychotherapy for transgender clients
Engage clients in a “natural human process of self
examination and exploration” (Korell & Lorah,
2007, p.275)
Provide encouragement, support, and affirmation
Korell & Lorah, 2007
25. RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR PROFESSIONALS
Professionals should
Be aware of medical issues related to transgender clients and understand the
medical process involved in sexual reassignment surgery (SRS)
Seek out opportunities for special training in order to work better with
transgender clients
Sexuality, sexual orientation, and sexual identity
Religion and spirituality
Identity development
Age, gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, culture, national origin,
disability, language, and socioeconomic status (APA, 2009, p. 6)
Be familiar with the law (see Transgender Law and Policy Institute:
www.transgenderlaw.org)
Encourage transgender clients to seek a support system(s): families, friends,
and the community
APA, 2009; Korell & Lorah, 2007
26. RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR PROFESSIONALS
Appropriate Therapeutic Interventions
Client-Centered, multicultural, evidence-based approaches
Unconditional acceptance and support
Assessment
Active coping (cognitive and emotional strategies)
Social support
Identity exploration and development (offer
permission and opportunity to explore a wide range of
options and reducing conflicts)
APA, 2009, p. 4
27. WPATH: Standards of Care
World Professional Association for Transgender Health
Provide clinical guidance for mental health professionals (i.e.
advocates, pediatricians, surgeons, and therapists) to help
transsexual, transgender, and gender nonconforming
individuals with safe and effective pathways to achieve
lasting personal comfort with their gender
Maximize the person’s overall health, psychological well-
being, and self-fulfillment
Promote primary care, gynecologic and urologic care,
reproductive options, voice and communication therapy,
mental health services, and hormonal and surgical treatment
http://www.wpath.org/
Coleman, et al., 2012
29. EXTERNAL RESOURCES
A document created by Coalition for the Advancement of
Moral Values:
http://killthebilluganda.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/mp-brief.html
Interview with Pastor Martin Ssempa and trans activist Pepe
Onziema: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tW6Ay86Nsu0
Article/interviews with members of the LGBTQI community
in Uganda:
http://www.advocate.com/news/world-news/2013/01/02/photos-we-are-he
30. EXTERNAL RESOURCES
Living proudly in face of Uganda’s anti-gay bill:
http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/25/opinion/onziema-uganda-anti-gay
Transgender activist in Truro fights for the lives of gay
Ungandans:
http://www.wickedlocal.com/provincetown/news/x1631902677/Transgend
Transgender Equality Uganda:
http://transgender-uganda.blogspot.com/
Civil Society Coalition On Human Rights and Constitutional
Law: http://www.ugandans4rights.org/
31. EXTERNAL RESOURCES
Freedom and Roam Uganda:
http://www.faruganda.org/index.php/areas-of-work.html
Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG):
http://www.sexualminoritiesuganda.net/index.php/about-us/partners-and-d
Rainbow Health Foundation, Mbarara (RHFM):
http://rainbowhealthfoundation.blogspot.com/
International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission,
information on Uganda:
http://www.iglhrc.org/cgi-bin/iowa/region/8.html
32. EXTERNAL RESOURCES
Stories of Hate Crimes:
http://akopsa.wordpress.com/2012/09/05/a-day-in-
kampala/
The following are the three part article of the same story:
https://prospect.org/article/one-day-uganda
http://web01.prospect.org/article/boy-or-girl
http://prospect.org/article/what-makes-activist
http://transgender-
uganda.blogspot.com/2012_01_01_archive.html
33. EXTERNAL RESOURCES
Press release from Trans organizations in Uganda:
iowa/article/takeaction/partners/1625.html
http://www.iglhrc.org/cgi-
bin/iowa/article/takeaction/partners/1655.html
We Are Here: LGBTI In Uganda
Photos and personal stories from LGBTI activists in
Ugandahttp://www.advocate.com/news/world-
news/2013/01/02/photos-we-are-here-lgbt-uganda?page=0,0
Wine & Bowties:
http://wineandbowties.com/art/in-the-name-of-love/
35. REFERENCES
American Psychological Association. (2009). Report of the task force on appropriate
therapeutic responses to sexual orientation. Washington, DC: American Psychological
Association.
Coleman, E., Bockting, W., Botzer, M., Cohen-Kettenis, P., DeCuypere, G., Feldman, J., Fraser,
L., Green, J., Knudson, G., Meyer, W. J., Monstrey, S., Adler, R. K., Brown, G. R., Devor, A.
H., Ehrbar, R., Ettner, R.,Eyler, E., Garofalo, R., Karasic, D. H., Lev, A. I., Mayer, G., Meyer-
Bahlburg, H.,Hall, B. P., Pfaefflin, F., Rachlin, K., Robinson, B., Schechter, L. S., Tangpricha,
V., van Trotsenburg, M., Vitale, A., Winter, S., Whittle, S., Wylie, K. R., & Zucker, K. (2012).
Standards of Care for the Health of Transsexual, Transgender, and Gender-Nonconforming
People, Version 7. International Journal of Transgenderism, 13(4), 165-232.
Conner, R.P. & Sparks, D.H. (2004). Queering Creole Spiritual Traditions: Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual, and Transgender Participation in African-Inspired Traditions in the Americas.
Binghamton, NY: Harrington Park Press.
Driberg, J.H. (1923). The Lango: A Nilotic Tribe of Uganda. London: T. Fisher.
Hamilton, J. K. (2012). Searching for Gender-Variant East African Spiritual Leaders, from
Missionary Discourse to Middle Course. In D.L. Boisvert & J.E. Johnson (Eds.), Queer
Religion: Homosexuality in Modern Religious History. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, Inc.
36. REFERENCES
Korell, S. C., & Lorah, P. (2007). An Overview of Affirmative Psychotherapy and
Counseling With Transgender Clients. Washington, DC, US: American
Psychological Association.
Machacek, D.W. & Wilcox, M.M. (2003). Sexuality and the World’s Religions. :
Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, Inc.
Martin, P. & O'Meara, P. (1995) Africa, 3rd edition. Bloomington, IN: Indiana
University Press.
Otiso, K.M. (2006). Culture and Customs of Uganda. Westport, CT: Greenwood
Press.
Tamale, S. (2007). Africa after gender. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University
Press.
Tamale, S. (2011). African sexualities: A reader. Oxford: Pambazuka Press.
