The Tale of the global protests and their relevance

Before and since Ugandans went to polls on the 18th of February 2016, opposition against the current regime has been growing steadily.

On the 9th March, Ugandan in the United Kingdom stood outside Uganda House, home of the Ugandan embassy in London and held a protest against the re-election President Museveni.

Unlike other protests, the one held in London was characterised by a mix of messages ranging from social to political sentiments.

During this protest, Ugandan gays based in UK also used this opportunity to sneak in and demand for equal opportunities.

When looking at social and political issues relevant to people in Uganda, it is true that there is intolerance towards people who identify themselves as LGBT which is mainly based on the belief that these people only learn how to be whom they claim to be.

While LGBT people fall short as ‘non-existent’ in Uganda, their fight to be treated like any other Ugandan is relentless and this further explains their dominance at the recent protest held at Uganda House in the United Kingdom.

Whilst the protesters held placards indicating their dissatisfactions towards the current government, a section of them who identified themselves as LGBT used this opportunity to call for tolerance and called upon Ugandans to live in peace and unity as one Uganda, One People regardless of their respective affiliations.

They demanded that their voices be heard and respected.

The two-hour strong protest in London was characterised by people of all walks all calling upon the current running government to respect Ugandans’ Human Rights.

Though the protest was neither ‘victor nor vanquished’, accordingly, it was clear that the LGBT people at the protest gained some degree of recognition and satisfaction.

Much as this protest mainly focused on regime change and calling upon Ugandans to embrace change, the presence of LGBT people at this protest was not hugely welcomed as a section of Facebook users resorted to using intolerant languages towards LGBT people as seen below.

Just Fifi commented, “Why would one define the other human according to his or her Sexual Orientations. We are all human whether Gay or heterosexual .The Gay topic is got nothing to do with this demonstration. When no one stands for what they believe in, there’s no changing going to be seen any time soon. If you want a better Uganda for you and your kids, do something about it and stop abusing other people. I have no rights to demonstrate because am longer a holder of a Uganda Citizenship, but that doesn’t stop me from encouraging those who can. At the end of the day my other family members are in Uganda, and I am always going to carry Uganda in my heart whenever I’m because it’s part of me and it made me who I’m today”