Will any Ugandan politician stand up for LGBTQ people? – Erasing 76 Crimes

Report on Uganda’s 2026 Electoral Climate and its Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

An analysis of the political discourse preceding Uganda’s 2026 general elections reveals a significant oversight concerning the rights of marginalized communities, particularly LGBTQ+ persons. The continued existence of the Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA) 2023 and the reluctance of political candidates to address it pose a direct challenge to Uganda’s progress towards several key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).

Political Landscape and its Detachment from SDG Principles

Avoidance of LGBTQ+ Issues in Political Campaigns

Prominent political figures, including incumbent President Museveni and opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine), are notably avoiding the topic of LGBTQ+ rights in their campaign manifestoes. This marks a shift from previous elections where homosexuality was often used as a political scapegoat. The current public focus has moved towards economic stability and survival, yet this has not translated into a commitment from leaders to protect vulnerable populations, thereby failing the “leave no one behind” principle central to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Implications for SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

The political silence on the AHA perpetuates systemic discrimination and inequality, directly contravening the aims of SDG 10. The exclusion of LGBTQ+ Ugandans from political and social discourse results in:

• Institutionalized marginalization of a minority group.
• Failure to ensure equal opportunity and end discriminatory laws and policies.
• Erosion of social inclusion for all citizens, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

The Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA) as a Barrier to Sustainable Development

Conflict with SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The AHA creates a climate of fear that severely impedes access to essential healthcare services for LGBTQ+ individuals. This undermines national public health efforts and conflicts with SDG 3 targets by:

1. Driving key populations underground, away from vital health services and information.
2. Weakening community trust in the healthcare system.
3. Creating significant barriers to achieving universal health coverage.

Contradiction of SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The AHA represents a fundamental challenge to the principles of justice, human rights, and inclusive institutions as outlined in SDG 16. Activist Frank Mugisha notes that the act is a threat to Uganda’s moral fabric and commitment to social justice. To align with SDG 16, political leaders must:

• Commit to legal reforms that protect every citizen from discrimination and violence.
• Promote the rule of law and ensure equal access to justice for all.
• Build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.

Recommendations for Aligning Political Action with the 2030 Agenda

A Call for Inclusive Policy and Leadership

To ensure Uganda’s development is truly sustainable and inclusive, it is imperative for political leaders and policymakers to address the human rights realities created by the AHA. As articulated by human rights advocates, the path forward requires decisive action.

Actionable Steps for Political Candidates

1. Publicly Condemn and Commit to Repeal: Move beyond broad statements to explicitly condemn the AHA and commit to its repeal to uphold SDG 10 and SDG 16.
2. Ensure Inclusive Policies: Explicitly include key and marginalized populations in all national health, social, and economic development policies, in line with the constitutional promise of equality for all.
3. Champion Legal Protections: Commit to comprehensive legal reforms that protect every citizen from discrimination and violence, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, thereby strengthening the foundation for achieving SDG 5 and SDG 16.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article highlights several issues in Uganda related to the rights and well-being of the LGBTQ community, which directly connect to the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The article explicitly states that the Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA) “affects access to healthcare, weakens community trust, drives people underground.” This directly relates to SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. The exclusion of a specific group from healthcare services undermines the principle of universal health coverage.

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  SDG 5 aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. Its principles extend to ending all forms of discrimination based on gender. The article’s call for legal reforms to protect citizens “regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation” connects directly to the goal of eliminating discrimination and ensuring equality for all, including LGBTQ individuals.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  This is a central theme of the article. It describes the “tyranny that minority Ugandans are subjected to” and how “the needs of LGBTQ Ugandans remain excluded from the gains politicians are so eager to celebrate.” The article focuses on the social and political exclusion of a marginalized group, which is the core issue addressed by SDG 10, aiming to reduce inequality within and among countries.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  The article discusses “gross human rights abuses” and calls for “true equality and justice.” It highlights the AHA as a law that undermines justice and human rights. The call to “commit to legal reforms that protect every citizen from discrimination and violence” directly aligns with SDG 16, which seeks to promote peaceful and inclusive societies, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable institutions.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the issues discussed, several specific SDG targets are relevant:

1. Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage… access to quality essential health-care services… for all.

   The article’s statement that the AHA “affects access to healthcare” for the LGBTQ community shows a direct challenge to this target. The law creates barriers that prevent a segment of the population from accessing essential health services, contradicting the “for all” principle of universal health coverage.

2. Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.

   While this target focuses on women and girls, its underlying principle is the elimination of gender-based discrimination. The article’s call to protect citizens “regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation” and to repeal the discriminatory AHA aligns with the spirit of this target by seeking to end discrimination against individuals based on their identity.

3. Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of… sex… or other status.

   The article describes how LGBTQ Ugandans are “excluded” and live “on the margins of our society.” The political avoidance of their issues and the existence of the AHA are direct barriers to their social and political inclusion, making this target highly relevant.

4. Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices.

   The call by activist Frank Mugisha to “condemn the Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA) and commit to its repeal” is a direct reference to this target. The AHA is a clear example of a “discriminatory law” that creates inequality, and its elimination is presented as a necessary step towards justice.

5. Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.

   The article calls for reforms to “protect every citizen from discrimination and violence.” This implies that the current legal and social environment, shaped by the AHA, exposes the LGBTQ community to a higher risk of violence, making this target pertinent.

6. Target 16.b: Promote and enforce non-discriminatory laws and policies for sustainable development.

   This target is directly addressed by the article’s central argument. The AHA is identified as a discriminatory law, and the commentary implicitly argues for its repeal and the promotion of non-discriminatory policies that would ensure “true equality and justice” for all Ugandans.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not cite official SDG indicators, but it implies several qualitative and quantitative measures that could be used to track progress:

• Existence of Discriminatory Legislation: The primary indicator is the status of the “Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA) 2023.” Its existence represents a failure to meet targets 10.3 and 16.b. Its repeal would be a clear measure of progress.
• Political Inclusion and Representation: The article notes that “none of the most prominent presidential candidates have provisions that address the tyranny that minority Ugandans are subjected to.” An indicator of progress would be the inclusion of LGBTQ rights and protections in political manifestoes and campaign platforms.
• Access to Healthcare for Marginalized Groups: The claim that the AHA “affects access to healthcare” implies that progress could be measured by tracking healthcare access and outcomes for LGBTQ individuals, ensuring they are not driven “underground” to seek care.
• Prevalence of Violence and Discrimination: The call to protect citizens from “violence” and “gross human rights abuses” suggests that an indicator would be the number of reported incidents of violence and discrimination against LGBTQ persons. A reduction in such incidents would signify progress towards Target 16.1.
• Inclusion in National Policies: The demand to “explicitly include key populations in health, social, and development policies” provides a clear indicator. Progress can be measured by reviewing national policies to see if they are inclusive of LGBTQ individuals.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: 76crimes.com