Programs What is Happening in Uganda

Virtual Program

 

Tickets are free but registration is required.

 

Join us for the next installment in our series, What’s happening in Uganda?, which will explore the recent passage of the suite of legislation officially titled, “The Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023”, by the Ugandan parliament and its signature into law by President Museveni. Dr. Catherine Kyobutungi, Richard Lusimbo, and Gloria Mugabekazi will help to break down the long political history of anti-lgbtq legislation in Uganda (and other countries in the region), the most consequential stakeholders in this most recent iteration of the campaign, and the immediate, real-world consequences of this law to the lives of those deemed to run afoul of it. We will also consider the response of activist groups in the country, international actors, and what to make of the larger global trend towards democratic processes and institutions increasingly forming the basis for the lawful disenfranchisement and oppression of individuals based on sexuality.

In addition to the law’s deep social implications, we will also consider the Ugandan government’s economic and geopolitical options in the context of an international community that stands largely in opposition to this.

Richard Lusimbo, hailing from Uganda in East Africa, is a renowned human rights activist, health services authority, and a prominent figure in the LGBTQ+ community. He is celebrated for his role as the Founder and Director General of The Uganda Key Populations Consortium (UKPC), a coalition that amalgamates key population organizations and networks to address pressing issues such as the diminishing civic space and dwindling resources for key population-focused programming in Uganda. Besides his role at UKPC, Richard is the Co-Founder and Board Chair of the Global Black Gay Men Connect. In addition, he serves as a Co-Convener for Convening For Equality, a coalition of LGBTQ individuals and organizations, allies, and partners opposing Uganda’s recently enacted Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023. Richard boasts a Bachelor of Information Technology Degree from Uganda Christian University (UCU), a Master of Philosophy in Human Rights and Democratization in Africa from the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, and has completed an International Training Programme in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights at Lund University in Sweden.

 

 

Dr. Catherine Kyobutungi is the Executive Director of the African Population and Health Research Center based in Nairobi, Kenya. She previously served as the Center’s Director of Research and Head of the research Unit on Health and Systems for Health. Catherine has a medical background and is a trained epidemiologist with research interests in the interface between Non-Communicable Diseases and Health Systems Strengthening. She has led research projects on the epidemiology of NCD risk factors in Kenya, and designed and tested service delivery models for resource-constrained settings such as slum settings. She has also conducted research on the policy context for NCD prevention in several African countries. Catherine is a strong advocate for the societal benefit of research beyond traditional research outputs. At APHRC, she has strengthened the Center’s approaches to policy engagement and advocacy and supported the development of policy and advocacy models to ensure timely and effective uptake of evidence in decision making. She has published more than 150 peer-reviewed papers, sits on multiple national and global expert advisory panels.