Uganda arrests 2 women over public kiss under harsh anti-LGBTQ law
In Uganda, two young women were arrested after allegedly kissing in public. The incident has sparked international outrage and renewed focus on the country’s punitive laws against LGBTQ people.
On February 18, 2026, police in Arua, a city in northwest Uganda, detained 22-year-old Wendy Faith and 21-year-old Alesi Diana. Neighbours had reported seeing the pair engage in same-sex affection in broad daylight.
According to local police, community members described the behaviour as “queer and unusual acts”. Authorities also claimed that other women regularly visited the pair’s residence. As a result, police arrested both women under Uganda’s strict laws against homosexuality.
Their arrest comes under the Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023, one of the world’s most severe LGBTQ laws. The law punishes same-sex sexual encounters with life imprisonment. It also introduces a harsher offence called “aggravated homosexuality”, carrying the death penalty in certain cases.
So far, it remains unclear when Faith and Diana will face formal charges. Meanwhile, human rights defenders have criticised the detentions. Frank Mugisha, head of a major LGBTQ advocacy group, said the case shows how the law is being used to target people based on their identity or relationships.
Critics argue that such laws create an environment of fear and discrimination. Moreover, they say that enforcement often leads to harassment, blackmail, and societal exclusion of LGBTQ individuals. International rights organisations have repeatedly condemned the law and called for urgent reform.
Despite global pressure, Uganda’s leaders have remained steadfast in their support for the legislation. Supporters claim it reflects deeply held moral and cultural values in the country. Still, opponents argue that criminalising affection harms basic human rights and freedom.
