Ugandan Police Arrest Two Women for Public Kiss Under Anti-Homosexuality Act
ARUA, Uganda – Police in northwestern Uganda have detained two women after neighbours reported them kissing in public, an act that violates the country’s stringent Anti-Homosexuality Act, authorities confirmed on Tuesday.
The women, identified as a 22-year-old entertainer and a 21-year-old unemployed woman, were taken into custody on February 18 in Arua City. According to police spokesperson Josephine Angucia, neighbours alerted authorities after allegedly photographing the pair kissing openly.
“Neighbours contacted police complaining the two were practising homosexuality and were seen kissing each other in public,” Angucia told AFP, adding that residents provided photos they claimed showed the act.
Authorities allege the two women, who have shared a one-bedroom home since last year, also hosted groups of women who stayed overnight—gatherings neighbours suggested were same-sex related. The case has been forwarded to prosecutors for review, and the women remain in custody without access to legal representation, according to news reports.
Uganda’s 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Act is among the world’s harshest, prescribing life imprisonment for consensual same-sex relations and the death penalty for “aggravated” cases, which include repeat offences or acts involving vulnerable individuals. The law has been largely upheld by courts since its enactment.
The arrests have drawn condemnation from human rights advocates. Prominent LGBTQ+ activist Frank Mugisha criticised the detention on social media, warning that the legislation fosters an environment ripe for blackmail and extortion.
“This highlights the dangerous environment LGBTQ+ Ugandans face,” Mugisha posted on X.
The legislation has faced widespread international criticism since taking effect in May 2023, including from the United Nations and various Western governments. The World Bank temporarily halted lending to Uganda over the law before restoring funding in 2025.
Uganda remains a predominantly conservative and Christian nation, where support for the anti-homosexuality legislation is widespread among political and religious leaders who defend it as upholding cultural values.
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