UGANDAN LGBTI GROUP BURGLED

There are fears for the safety of activists after the office of Freedom and Roam Uganda (Farug), a LGBTI rights group, was burgled and vandalised, with the burglars stealing the names of members.

The incident on Saturday came just as the organisation was about to launch its ‘Hate No More Campaign’ which aims to promote LGBTI equality and end violence against sexual minorities.

According to Behind The Mask, acid was used to weaken and open padlocks to gain entry into the office.

“It’s with great sadness that I write to inform you that Farug offices were broken into on Saturday night. Five computers, two printers, server, microwave and some docs including the electronic database of member’s names were stolen,” Farug’s founder, Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera, said in a statement.

In May, Nabagesera was awarded the prestigious international Martin Ennals Laureate Award for Human Rights Defenders for her work in promoting the rights of LGBTI and marginalised people in Uganda.

“It seems they were looking for information and data. These are not ordinary thieves,” Nabagesera told Behind the Mask, which noted that cash and a new television were untouched by the criminals.

There are concerns that the stolen names may be used to target LGBTI people.

In January, David Kato, a Ugandan LGBTI activist, was bludgeoned to death with a hammer in his home. Last month, Najib Kabuye, another Ugandan LGBTI activist, narrowly escaped death when his house was set alight.