A Ugandan man makes his feelings known in 2014, when anti-gay laws are introduced (Picture: AP/Rebecca Vassie)

Sixteen LGBT activists in Uganda were subjected to forced anal examinations after being arrested, the country’s leading gay rights organisation claimed today.

The men were taken into police custody late on Monday to protect them from a homophobic mob which had surrounded the house they were staying in.

However they were then arrested and charged under a colonial-era anti-gay law.

It comes amid fears of an increase in attacks on LGBT people in the country.


Executive Director of Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG), Frank Mugisha, said: ‘Last night (Wednesday) the police subjected them to forced anal exams.’

Mr Mugisha described the practice as ‘degrading and inhumane.’

File photo of Ugandans taking part in Pride celebrations in Entebbe (Picture: AP)

SMUG said the arrests took place in a neighbourhood just outside the capital, Kampala, on Monday, as the men were being hosted by another rights group.



Police spokesman Patrick Onyango said that, based on their medical examinations, ‘it was established that the suspects were involved in sexual acts punishable under the penal code’.

Another police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the men were detained following a ‘complaint from the public.’

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The men, members of an LGBT activist group called Let’s Walk Together, have been held beyond the constitutionally mandated 48 hours without a court hearing.

Five years ago, Uganda was widely criticised for introducing anti-homosexual laws which initially aimed to make gay sex punishable by the death penalty.

The country’s President, Yoweri Museveni, is known for extreme homophobic views and earlier this year hit out at oral sex.

In recent years there have been no prosecutions for consensual same sex acts, which are deemed ‘against the order of nature’, an can lead to life imprisonment.

According to Human Rights Watch, forced anal examinations are a long-discredited technique which aim to determine whether someone has engaged in anal intercourse in order to seek evidence for prosecution.

SMUG say attacks against LGBT people have soared in recent weeks, with four people killed in attacks over the last three months.

The increased tension follows reported comments by Ugandan Ethics Minister, Simon Lokodo, that he wanted to see the return of legislation that could tighten already strict anti-gay laws.

In 2014, proposed legislation was thrown out by the courts on procedural grounds.

The government has denied that it has any intention to introduce new laws.

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