Ex-gay activist jailed for alleged homosexuality

A man who rose to prominence for his fervent anti-gay rhetoric now finds himself entangled in a controversy of Uganda’s first major case since the enactment of the controversial anti-homosexuality law.

Elisha Mukisa and another man were on Tuesday arraigned before the Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court and charged with engaging in homosexuality. They denied the charges and have since been remanded to prison

Prosecution led by Ivan Kyazze, alleges that between the months of December 2022 and July 2023, within the jurisdiction of Kisaasi in Nakawa Division, Kampala, Mukisa engaged in a sexual act with Kitimbo Ramon Mwesigwa, who is of the same gender.

In March, Mr Mukisa appeared as a victim of homosexuality before the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament which was scrutinising the then anti-homosexuality bill. He was flanked by religious leaders including the president of the National Pastors’ Platform of Uganda, Pastor David Kiganda, another homosexuality victim Suleiman Kasolo, and Arising for Christ Ministries pastor Solomon Male.

“The Mukisa story is one laden with irony. A typical example of those who live by the sword die by the sword. This is in no way a sense of schadenfreude but rather a sense of disillusionment in our political class. The law in its entirety was based on cheap and unsubstantiated claims and his conspiracy theories. A chap who has been convicted for assaulting minors before by a comment court. It befuddled me how he got an audience with some people at the helm of the Ugandan legislature to spread fear and hate that produced that law that has had grave implications on the country,” says Dr Frank Mugisha, a human rights activist.

Mugisha who was a target of the allegations by Mr Mukisa has urged the authorities to respect the rights of Mukisa and his co-accused.

“He blackmailed NGOs that have a bent on queer rights work. But like night follows day I knew the truth could not be hidden forever. I also unequivocally state that more than anyone else he (Mukisa) deserves to be tried with due process unlike what he wished for others,” he said.

Several other people have come out to speak about Mukisa’s detention including lawyer and activist Nicholas Opiyo.

“Elisha Mukasa destroyed many people's reputations with a litany of false accusations. He lent himself to the anti-gay campaigns that have chewed and now spit him out. But regardless of his previous actions, he, like all, deserves a fair trial. The only irony is that he'll be tried under a law he so fervently promoted with disinformation and lies,” posted on his Twitter account.

On Monday, the Police arrested and detained four people following a raid on a massage parlour that is alleged to be offering gay and lesbian sex services.