Uganda Police Raid HIV Program Looking for Gay and Bi Men to Arrest

People living with HIV, especially those who are gay, bisexual, or transgender, in Uganda have been reeling from last week's police raid on an HIV and AIDS service provider in Kampala (which was funded by the United State's military's Walter Reed Project). 

Box Turtle Bulletin posted video from NTV Uganda (in which safer-sex educational materials, condoms, and lube that the group offered are cited by Uganda Police Force spokesman Fred Enanga as reasons for arrests). Enanga released a statement about last week's raid, which is as follows:

"Police received a report that an NGO based in Nakasero area of Kampala was carrying out recruitment and training of young males in unnatural sexual acts.

"Police deployed crime intelligence officers to verify the claims, by infiltrating the project. Two officers undertook the assignment.

"The officers were registered for training by the NGO, and given identification numbers. The training targeted youth between the ages of 18 and 25.The trainees were shown videos of men engaging in homosexual activity, and they were encouraged to bring along their sexual partners.

"The trainees were further given literature describing safe sexual practice between males, as well as condoms and lubricant. They were each paid between UGX. 10,000 to UGX. 100,000, as transport refund, at the end of each training session. On 4th of April, 2014, crime intelligence officers observed a large number of participants being shown a same-sex pornographic film. The officers identified themselves to the facilitators, and asked for an explanation on what was happening.

On learning of the presence of the Police, the participants fled. One of the facilitators accompanied the officers to Jinja Road Police Station to assist in investigation, and was later released.

"The NGO later complained to the Inspector-General of Police of harassment and unprofessional conduct by the officers involved, and the IGP has directed the Professional Standards Unit to investigate.

"In the meantime, we appeal to all persons who may have participated in this training, or have information that could assist the Police in the investigation, to volunteer such information to the Police."