LGBT Rights in Northern Geographic Regions

Northern 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

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History

Homosexual activity in Northern

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Homosexual activity in Northern 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.
May 3, 2021–Mar 22, 2023
Illegal (up to life in prison as punishment)
The Sexual Offences Bill (2019), first tabled in 2015, criminalises sexual activity between persons of the same gender.
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Aug 1, 2014–May 2, 2021
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.
Feb 24, 2014–Jul 31, 2014
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.
Jun 15, 1950–Feb 24, 2014
Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
Section 145 of the penal code indicates any carnal knowledge against nature is punishable for 7 years to life in prison.
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Same-sex marriage in Northern

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Same-sex marriage in Northern 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.
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Jul 12, 2005–May 26, 2023
Banned
Marriage in Uganda is defined as a union between a man and a woman constitutionally.

Censorship of LGBT issues in Northern

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Censorship of LGBT issues in Northern 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.
2019–May 29, 2023
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”.
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Right to change legal gender in Northern

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Right to change legal gender in Northern 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.
Sources:
opendemocracy.net/en/5050/t…
ulii.org/akn/ug/act/2015/4/eng@2015-03-26#:~:text=%281%29%20This%20Act%20applies%20to%20the%20registration%20of,and%20the%20United%20Nations%20High%20Commissioner%20for%20Refugees.
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Gender-affirming care in Northern

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Gender-affirming care in Northern is legal, but banned for minors.

Current status
Legal, but banned for minors
Gender-Affirming Care in Uganda is legal but banned for minors
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Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Northern

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Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Northern 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.”
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LGBT discrimination in Northern

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LGBT discrimination in Northern 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.
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LGBT employment discrimination in Northern

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LGBT employment discrimination in Northern is no protections.

Current status
No protections
According to the ILGA World, there are no protections in employment.
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LGBT housing discrimination in Northern

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LGBT housing discrimination in Northern is no protections.

Current status
Since Jun 15, 1904
No protections
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Same-sex adoption in Northern

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Same-sex adoption in Northern is illegal.

Current status
Illegal
No laws in place for same sex couples.
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Intersex infant surgery in Northern

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Intersex infant surgery in Northern is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Serving openly in military in Northern

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Serving openly in military in Northern 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.
Sources:
(See sources listed for homosexual activity.)
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Blood donations by MSMs in Northern

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Blood donations by MSMs in Northern is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Conversion therapy in Northern

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Conversion therapy in Northern is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
According to the ILGA World, there's no ban on conversion therapy in Uganda.
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Equal age of consent in Northern

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Equal age of consent in Northern is n/a.

Current status
Since May 3, 2021
N/A
Not applicable since same-sex sexual relationships are illegal.
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