There are countless well documented tales of many Ugandans who have decided to leave the comfort of their country for the murky diaspora waters where they feel at comfortable.
From the pressures of politics, sexuality difference, religious and cultural beliefs variations, there are several push factors that lead to the forced immigration of Ugandans to the other countries.
Shafick Ntambi is one of the millions of Ugandans seeking for Asylum away from home over homosexuality allegations.
Ntambi had to flee the country in late 2017 and has lived away from his family in Uganda for now almost four years after fears of killing him.
This act is illegal by the law of the country and anyone indulged into it is either ex-communicated or imprisoned.
Ntambi being a homosexual since the teen days was also expelled from home and school.
Investigations by this publication reveal that he survived death by a whisker in 2017 when he was caught in the act with another gay, a one Isabirye, a former footballer.
Since the early teen days, he is believed to have got much interest in fellow boys because of their looks, body shapes and characters as these attributes allegedly lured him.
One day, he was caught red-handed in school with his partner (male) in the act by a teacher in 2000.
Himself and the partner were both expelled from the school.
His family got very angry and they kicked him out of the home before he sought refugee at friend’s places but with time, they got angry with him upon discovering that he was gay.
He always lived in isolation away from home in Jinja (Eastern Uganda).
It is suspected that Ntambi lived a horrible and miserable life since he could walk in fear and survived death by an angry mob in 2017.
He therefore had no choice but to flee the country to live a comfortable life and save life.
Fleeing the country:
Ntambi had to forcefully depart Uganda to Europe (exact destination could not be established) in late 2017.
As Ntambi escaped, the partner was arrested and he was sentenced to a jail sentence.
It is a tricky moment to live in Uganda where homosexuality is not tolerated at all.
He could not easily find a house to rent because of being a homo-sexual after landlords pushed him out of their houses on knowing who he is.
Close friends described Ntambi as a quite person, simple and loving with a big sense of humour but proud being a homosexual.
In Uganda, homosexuals live a quiet life style since the act is strongly condemned by the State and family beliefs.
Often, single sex culprits are convicted in the courts of law up to 7 years of imprisonment.
LGBT Movement in Uganda:
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Uganda face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents.
Activists estimated in 2007 that the Ugandan LGBT community consisted of 500,000 people.
Both male and female homosexual activity is illegal. Non-vaginal intercourse (such as oral sex and anal sex) between heterosexuals is also illegal.
Under the Penal Code, “carnal knowledge against the order of nature” between two males carries a potential penalty of life imprisonment. The Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Act, 2014 was passed on 17 December 2013 with a punishment of life in prison for “aggravated homosexuality”.
The law brought Uganda into the international spotlight, and caused international outrage, with many governments refusing to provide aid to Uganda anymore.
In August 2014, the Uganda Constitutional Court annulled the law. LGBT people continue to face major discrimination in Uganda, actively encouraged by political and religious leaders.
Violent and brutal attacks against LGBT people are common, often performed by state officials. Households headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for the same legal protections available to opposite-sex couples.
Same-sex marriage has been constitutionally banned since 2005.
On 24th February 2014, the Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni signed the anti-gay bill.
