Steven Kabuye, a prominent 25-year-old LGBTQ+ activist in Uganda, is in critical condition after being viciously stabbed on his way to work by unknown assailants on Wednesday. The attack, carried out by individuals on a motorbike, has raised concerns among human rights defenders, who have been warning about the escalating risk of violence against members of the LGBTQ+ community in the aftermath of Uganda’s adoption of stringent anti-gay laws.
Local authorities reported that Kabuye sustained knife wounds and was left for dead in the assault on the outskirts of the capital, Kampala, before being discovered by residents who rushed him to a nearby medical clinic. Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango revealed that Kabuye informed investigators about receiving death threats leading up to the attack.
According to Onyango’s statement, Kabuye recounted the incident, stating, “Two unidentified individuals on a motorcycle, wearing helmets, approached him. The passenger jumped off and attacked him, specifically targeting his neck with a knife. Kabuye managed to shield his neck with his right arm, resulting in a stab wound to his hand. Despite attempting to flee, the assailants chased and stabbed him in the stomach, leaving him for dead.”
Kabuye, who works with the Coloured Voices Media Foundation advocating for LGBTQ+ youth, shared details of the threats he had been receiving since March 2023 with investigators at his bedside. The activist had returned to Uganda in December for Christmas after traveling abroad in June.
Human rights advocates, including Richard Lusimbo, the head of Uganda Key Populations Consortium, are rallying efforts to ensure Kabuye receives the medical attention he needs while urging accountability for the perpetrators. Lusimbo stated, “All our efforts at the moment [are to ensure] that he gets the medical attention he deserves and also the perpetrators of this heinous act are held responsible.”
Hans Senfuma, a Ugandan gay rights activist, took to social media to express the gravity of the situation. In a post, Senfuma revealed, “Steven claims that these two guys’ intentions were to kill him, not robbing, and also claims that it seems they have been following him for several days.”
The attack on Kabuye comes in the wake of Uganda adopting anti-gay legislation in May of last year, which includes provisions classifying “aggravated homosexuality” as a potentially capital offense and imposing penalties of up to life imprisonment for consensual same-sex relations. As concerns over the safety of LGBTQ+ individuals in Uganda persist, the international community continues to monitor developments and advocate for the protection of human rights.
