Organizers behind Ugandan's annual
pride celebration announced Friday that they were canceling this
year's march slated for this weekend.
According to BuzzFeed
News, Saturday's parade was scheduled to take place in Munyonyo,
outside the nation's capital of Kampala in a private space.
Lawyer/activist Nick Opiyo of Chapter 4
Uganda told BuzzFeed that Ethic Minister Simon Lokodo had threatened
to disrupt the march during a meeting between the two on Friday.
“We decided to suspend it because of
the risks to personal safety,” Opiyo said. “The minister
threatened to mobilize a mob and a large police group to beat up
anyone who shows up for pride tomorrow. We will engage the government
next week with a view of holding the pride parade at another date
soon.”
The news comes a day after police
raided a pride event, where they arrested several prominent LGBT
rights activists.
(Related: Uganda
Pride event raided by police.)
Ty Cobb of the Human Rights Campaign
(HRC) called the cancellation “deeply disturbing.”
“It is deeply disturbing that
Uganda's Pride celebration had to be canceled after threats from
public officials. We stand in solidarity with the Ugandan LGBTQ
community as they continue their work to make Uganda a country that
is welcoming to all.”