YOUTH RIGHTS ALLIANCE, UGANDA

The following interview is of one of our Transgender sisters from Uganda. Mukisa (aka Clara) still currently resides in Uganda where she faces ongoing backlash against the entire LGBTQIA+ community. Instead of cowering in fear, Clara has decided to stand up for the community by creating the Youth Rights Alliance. The Youth Rights Alliance participates in a number of community activities by organizing connections to Trans health services, shelter for the homeless Trans youth, as well as, documenting human rights violations and providing safe sex items. This is Clara’s story in her own words with small corrections for clarity and/or grammar:

What inspired you to start the Youth Rights Alliance?

For a long time I had [the] passion to work and serve my community to the best I can and for a long time I have worked to organize. There was always a gap left when it came to the issues and needs of Transgender persons, mainly in the Eastern region of Uganda. [It is] full of rural areas where levels of advocacy, awareness and sensitization on human rights of the marginalized are still low. Given the fact that I come from a rural area too and [was] once a victim, I saw the need to start up an organization to bridge the gaps faced by my fellow Transgender persons in access to health services and legal services as they were being left out.

What do you want people to know about Uganda?

I would love people to know that the president of Uganda assented to a deadly bill that’s now a law that makes the LGBTIQ community members live like criminals in our own country. Given the penalties of the law that even denies an LGBTIQ person shelter as it says there is a penalty for a landlord found housing an LGBTIQ person. Uganda now has become [a] perpetrator in violating rights of the LGBTIQ community in Uganda.

What is the employment situation like for LGBTQIA+ people in Uganda?

In Uganda its very hard for an LGBTQIA+ person to get employment mainly the transgender persons given the levels of stigma and discrimination and biases people have over the LGBTQIA+ community.

Does the community take care of each other? In what ways?

Yes the community does care for each other in ways like:

When one is arrested, they are there to offer all the kind of support needed to see you free. When sick, referrals are given in order to get better medication. We always gather to celebrate good times and bad times together.

Is there any type of governmental support? If so, in what ways?

Partly I would say yes as there is access to health services from health facilities. [It is the] only sector at which the government is trying to respect the health rights of individuals no matter how you identify.

What is it like in the religious community? Do you have churches where LGBTQIA+ people can worship?

Before the bill we had an LGBTQIA+ inclusive church for our community where we would go and worship. After the bill became law it's now hard for church to happen as also the council of religious leaders were part of the people supporting and pressuring the President to sign the bill.

What do you believe other people misunderstood about Uganda?

Uganda being a country of democracy where all citizens exercise their rights is something I believe people misunderstand about Uganda because even the fundamental rights are not respected and protected as stated in the constitution of Uganda.

If you had an opportunity to move out of Uganda would you? Why or why not?

Honestly speaking, if I had that opportunity, I would move out of Uganda as its no longer safe for any LGBTQIA+ person to be staying in Uganda [because of the law] that criminalizes us, mainly us Transgender persons. [I] would still wish to continue with my activism, share my story to the world but also lobby for my community in terms of advocacy for its betterment.

Do you have a quote that motivates you? What is it?

A quote that motivates me most of the time is that “ To overcome fear, you need to face fear” It really helps me to remember that I need to face things I fear to overcome them otherwise [I] will keep on fearing them forever.

Do you see representation of our community on television or movies? What are those like?

In Uganda, I don’t see any representation of our community on television or movies because even the documentaries we do cannot be aired out on televisions given the stigma and discrimination we still have in Uganda. In addition, personalities, movie actors will fear to come out given the terrible conditions faced by our community in Uganda.

What is dating like in Uganda?

Here dating is something community members are doing but in hiding where people cannot see given the many homophobes we [have] in Uganda. LGBTQIA+ people who are dating try to pretend whenever they are in public places given that it's still illegal for same sex relationships.

What of your personal story do you want to share with our reader?

Mukisa Clara is a 23 year old Transgender person under hormonal therapy coming from a rural area in the Eastern region of Uganda. [I] am the first Transgender woman to come out in our area and also being under hormonal therapy. Given it’s the area where I come from, I have had so many challenges with my family with

Now that you’ve had the opportunity to read Clara’s words, you have the opportunity to help her Due to the tenuous situation in Uganda and Clara’s community activism, she is at risk in every area Her employment and housing situations have become unstable If you would like to donate to Clara, download the Remit App and enter the following information to donate directly to her She is a woman of great courage and a big heart, let’s help her continue to do her good work

Airtel number - +256740551720

Names - Kakooza Davis

Address - Mpererwe, Kawempe

City- Kampala

Country - Uganda

Society norms built us in spaces that could never hold us. But displace the true essence of why they hate us so much.

Free thinkers that overcome adversity and urge people to view life through an uncompromised lens.

Who often get viewed as “the unwanted population”. A population so in touch with what has been out of touch for far too long

We make our rules instead.

In order to ask for eyes to be opened and minds to be exposed to what is so apparently clear.

We would rather vibrantly stand out than have to fit in a world that has oppressed us.

See they have attempted to silence us since before the stonewall riot.

So worried the L G B T + will spread like wildfire but we just attempt to live.

We thrive in spite of what they throw in our ways and we break through and rise.

See we have so much personality and with every breath we take we illuminate the world around us.

We wear a smile proudly when our basic essentials are met.

By a system that means to make sure we struggle. Encompassed with infractions.

Buried in limitations but never eliminated.

It is easier to give up than create the friction needed to fuel the turmoil to conquer.

Drowned in fear so aware that if we don’t live no one will. So familiar with failing that winning is shocking.

See we idolize the ball players and rappers.

See praise cisgender straight divas when they feed off our cunt.

They want our tips to flourish.

We are the chosen ones.

They imitate us to embellish on their vanilla.

We live on to thrive another day, hearts heavy most days, and weight on shoulders but always eyes forward.