Seduction Of Colonies: The Impact Of British Colonial Laws On Homosexuality In Uganda

Abstract

Criminalization of homosexuality in Uganda has deep roots in the country’s colonial past, particularly in the introduction of British laws that criminalized sodomy. This paper explores the historical trajectory of these laws, beginning with the 1533 Buggery Act in England and their importation into Uganda during the colonial era, culminating in the enduring legacy of Uganda’s Penal Code. The analysis demonstrates that while British colonial authorities sought to impose Victorian values and criminalize non-heteronormative sexualities, pre-colonial Uganda exhibited a more fluid understanding of gender and sexuality. The 1902 Uganda Penal Code, modeled on British legal systems, institutionalized these values and entrenched homophobia in Ugandan society, with long-lasting effects on LGBTQ+ rights. The paper also examines how foreign influence, particularly from US evangelical groups, continues to shape Uganda’s modern anti-LGBTQIA+ policies, including the Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA) passed in 2023. Through this historical lens, the paper reveals the interplay between colonialism, local cultural norms, and foreign interventions in the perpetuation of homophobic laws and attitudes. In examining these issues, the study underscores the ongoing struggle for LGBTQ+ rights in Uganda and the broader legacy of colonialism in shaping contemporary debates around sexual and gender minorities