Uganda: Two women arrested for lesbian kiss escape trial
Two Ugandan women arrested for kissing in public had charges dropped. Yet fear remains widespread for LGBTQ+ people in the country.
In February 2025, two women were arrested in Uganda. Their names were Wendy and Diana. Police detained them in Arua, a northern city.
Their alleged crime? They kissed in public. Police arrested them under Uganda's anti-homosexuality law. This law ranks among the world's harshest. It imposes lengthy prison sentences for same-sex relationships.
On July 17, 2025, good news emerged. Uganda's prosecution officially dropped charges against both women. They will not face court proceedings. They no longer risk conviction for that kiss.
Yet regained freedom does not mean safety. LGBTQ+ rights groups remain deeply concerned. They stress that fear itself has not disappeared. Wendy and Diana endured traumatic weeks in detention. Many LGBTQ+ people in Uganda live in daily terror.
Uganda adopted its anti-homosexuality law in 2023. International condemnation followed immediately. Governments, NGOs and human rights organizations denounced this legislation. The United States even imposed economic sanctions on Uganda.
Despite this pressure, Uganda's government refused to back down. President Yoweri Museveni strongly defends this law. He claims it reflects the country's cultural and religious values.
On the ground, consequences are severe. LGBTQ+ people face arrest, harassment and violence. Some flee the country seeking refuge elsewhere. Local organizations operate under dangerous conditions. Their activists risk their lives daily.
Wendy and Diana's case illustrates brutal reality. A simple kiss can mean imprisonment in Uganda. Even with dropped charges, trauma persists. The law itself remains fully active.
Human rights defenders urge the international community to pressure Kampala. They demand complete repeal of this discriminatory, dangerous legislation.