Eastern is governed by federal Uganda law. Learn more
- Homosexuality
- ⚢✖ Illegal (death penalty as punishment)
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✖ Banned
- Censorship
- ✖ Imprisonment as punishment
- Changing Gender
- Ambiguous
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✖ Legal, but banned for minors
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Employment Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Housing Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Adoption
- ✖ Illegal
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- Unknown
- Military
- ✖ Illegal
- Donating Blood
- Unknown
- Conversion Therapy
- ✖ Not banned
- Age of Consent
- N/A
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Public Opinion
Eastern is lacking public opinion data.
Help expand our understanding of the public's view on LGBTQ+ issues in Eastern by sharing a link to a survey from a reputable organization.
Suggest Public Opinion DataHistory
Homosexual activity in Eastern is illegal (death penalty as punishment).
Current status
Since May 29, 2023
Illegal (death penalty as punishment)
President Yoweri Museveni signed an "Anti-Homosexuality" bill into law. This still punishes homosexuality with imprisonment up to life, but the bill allows "aggravated homosexuality" to be punished by death.
The definition of "aggravated homosexuality" includes three main categories.
1. Consensual sex between adults wherein the party is a second-time offender.
2. Rape, against an adult or a child.
3. Homosexual activities performed by those with HIV, or that involve a disabled or elderly person.
"Attempted homosexuality" is also punishable by law, meeting up to 10 years in prison, while "attempted aggravated homosexuality" can be met with up to 14 years.
The definition of "aggravated homosexuality" includes three main categories.
1. Consensual sex between adults wherein the party is a second-time offender.
2. Rape, against an adult or a child.
3. Homosexual activities performed by those with HIV, or that involve a disabled or elderly person.
"Attempted homosexuality" is also punishable by law, meeting up to 10 years in prison, while "attempted aggravated homosexuality" can be met with up to 14 years.
Male illegal, female uncertain
Previous bill was struck down due to a technicality rendering it unconstitutional. However, homosexual conduct is still explicitly illegal and is punishable by imprisonment.
Illegal (up to life in prison as punishment)
Under this bill, "aggravated homosexuality" is punishable by imprisonment for life. Includes provisions which make it illegal to aid homosexuality, touch with the intent of homosexuality, and promote homosexuality. Allows extradition for homosexuality-related offenses.
Earlier referred to internationally as the "Kill the Gays" bill when first proposed on October 13, 2009, life imprisonment was substituted for the death penalty following international pressure.
Prior to this bill, homosexuality was illegal under Section 145 of the penal code, punishable by up to life imprisonment.
Earlier referred to internationally as the "Kill the Gays" bill when first proposed on October 13, 2009, life imprisonment was substituted for the death penalty following international pressure.
Prior to this bill, homosexuality was illegal under Section 145 of the penal code, punishable by up to life imprisonment.
Same-sex marriage in Eastern is banned.
Current status
Since May 29, 2023
Banned
The "Anti-Homosexuality Bill" signed into law by President Yoweri Museveni states that same-sex marriage is punishable by 10 years imprisonment. The same punishment is to be applied to those conducting same-sex marriage ceremonies.
Censorship of LGBT issues in Eastern is imprisonment as punishment.
Current status
Since May 29, 2023
Imprisonment as punishment
As of May 29, 2023, the Anti-Homosexuality Act punishes the "promotion" of homosexuality with up to 20 years in prison.
State-enforced
In 2019, the Uganda Communications Commission adopted the Standards for General Broadcast Programming in Uganda. Article 6(5) determines that “information, themes or subplots on lifestyles such as homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexualism, transsexualism, transvestism, paedophilia and incest” should not “promote, justify or glamorize” them. Further, explicit dialogue or information concerning the above topics should not be broadcasted. In addition, Article 8.6 states that sex education programmes should not encourage or promote “unnatural sex acts”.
Right to change legal gender in Eastern is ambiguous.
Current status
Since Mar 26, 2015
Ambiguous
Only people born as intersex could change their ID from male to female or female to male following surgery certified by a medical doctor.
Gender-affirming care in Eastern is legal, but banned for minors.
Current status
Legal, but banned for minors
Gender-Affirming Care in Uganda is legal but banned for minors
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Eastern is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
The law do not provide the option of identifying as “non-binary/intersex/gender non-conforming.”
LGBT discrimination in Eastern is no protections.
Current status
Since Jun 15, 1904
No protections
As homosexual conduct is illegal, discrimination against LGBTQ+ people are very present. Most recently, the anti-homosexuality bill tried to make it illegal for any person to not report an LGBT individual.
LGBT employment discrimination in Eastern is no protections.
Current status
No protections
According to the ILGA World, there are no protections in employment.
LGBT housing discrimination in Eastern is no protections.
Current status
Since Jun 15, 1904
No protections
Same-sex adoption in Eastern is illegal.
Current status
Illegal
No laws in place for same sex couples.
Intersex infant surgery in Eastern is unknown.
Current status
Unknown
Serving openly in military in Eastern is illegal.
Current status
Illegal
There is no certain laws that outlaw gays serving in military, but intense discrimination prevents gays from serving openly. As such, homosexual activity is not legal.
Blood donations by MSMs in Eastern is unknown.
Current status
Unknown
Conversion therapy in Eastern is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
According to the ILGA World, there's no ban on conversion therapy in Uganda.
Equal age of consent in Eastern is n/a.
Current status
Since May 3, 2021
N/A
Not applicable since same-sex sexual relationships are illegal.
Legal Rights
3 / 100
This region's Equality Index is based on legal rights alone. Please submit survey results that show the public opinion of LGBTQ+ issues in Eastern to help improve its accuracy.
Top Contributors
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- LGBTsoutheastasian 3 contributions
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Eastern LGBT Organizations
There are no organizations listed in Eastern. Suggest one
