Ugandan LGBTI rights activist Richard Lusimbo has spoken to CTV about his decision to remain in his homeland despite its anti-gay climate and draconian new laws further criminalizing gay people and their freedom of expression.

‘Uganda is home. It’s where my family is. It’s where my livelihood is. It’s where I’ve grown up and there’s a lot of work to be done,’ Lusimbo said.

‘I have a right to be there and I also have a right to contribute to [Uganda’s] development.

‘Looking at all that, I’m strengthened to go back, regardless how the situation is right now.’

Lusimbo said it was important that he return so that he can help speak out on behalf of gay Ugandans who aren’t in a position to speak out for themselves because of the discrimination and violence they would face.

Lusimbo was part of a group of 10 Ugandan activists who were originally denied entry visas because of fears they would seek asylum in Canada if they were allowed to visit for the WorldPride Human Rights Conference which is being held in Toronto this month.

However Lusimbo told CTV he was prepared to die or go to prison in the fight for equality for LGBTI people in Uganda.

‘I always say that if anything was ever to happen to me, and I define that as death or being arrested, whatever it will be, that will be my time,’ Lusimbo said.

Lusimbo was thrust into the public eye in Uganda after the notorious Red Pepper tabloid published a story about him under the headline ‘How to be a Homo,’ which outed him in a fake interview with him.