Is it safe for LGBT to visit Uganda

Are Gays or Lesbians allowed to visit Uganda for a safari?

Despite some negative press, Uganda is a safe country for gay and lesbian travelers. However, Uganda is a conservative country and we recommend discretion this applies to people who intend to reside in the country for quite a long time.

Uganda is a very hospitable country we would want you to pay a visit and enjoy the beauty of nature, weather, food, and people. Uganda is a very safe place for Gay or Lesbian travelers but you may need to follow the guidance given in this article.

LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) people do exist in Uganda only that they don't go public because of such penalties as spending 10 years behind bars. In 2014, the Ugandan parliament proposed a law that punishes people engaged in homosexuality with life imprisonment but this was ruled out after certain revisions on the bill.

Since then, LGBT has been living a more undercover lifestyle than the public, with literally no church willing to wed them or even being culturally accepted. This didn't only impact the tourism industry negatively but also pushed Uganda into the limelight with criticisms from the international community and human rights activists and slowed down business from certain sectors of the economy.

Of course, the tourism sector was the most affected will a registered 35% reduction in numbers compared to previous years before was passed.

The tourism industry is solely dependent on visitors from foreign countries. A 35% reduction in the number of tourists visiting the country was a big blow to the sector and government revenue, not forgetting the larger multiplier effect of tourism.

Uganda remains a very safe country for gay and lesbian tourists, only that tourists hardly take their time to inquire how a gay traveler can maintain a safe stay in Uganda but rather get freaked out by the number of news articles they read on the internet.

According to President Museveni years ago in his interview on Travel Trade Magazine, he has no issue against gay tourists. The president revealed that he believes in no persecution, no killing, and no discrimination of gay people because some chiefs in the country's history were gay but never talked about their sexuality in public.

“What happens in private, regardless of sexual orientation, is private but Western critics should respect that in Uganda, any public display of affection, gay or straight, would be offensive,” - President Museveni.

Museveni added that he had never shown his wife, Minister Janet Kataha Museveni, any public affection for all their years together.

In our culture, public display of affection is not right and anything to do with love should be private.

Children shouldn't see such acts happening at ease or even every other person because this would degrade the values of our culture.

The main reason behind banning homosexuality was to save the future generation of the country from getting involved in such acts.

However, the president having no issues with gay travelers doesn't mean he has less or no control over the laws enacted in the parliament of Uganda. When Members of Parliament pass a law, the president has no right to revoke it.

What do we draw from this? Uganda is only safe for Gay travelers who are willing to keep their sexuality discrete. For instance, no one at immigration will ever ask about your sexual orientation, it all feels comfortable and you will not see Ugandans showing off affection whether right or Gay.

But also it's very hard to point out gay tourists unless they show any public signs like affection or dressing like women and like said previously, everyone in Uganda minds their own business and won't care so much about what tourists do.

It's recommended to book a safari with tour operators, who are sensitive to your rights, will respect them, keep them private, and most of all support you throughout your entire safari in Uganda. Please mention to your operator your sexual orientation before you finalize your booking for better planning.

About accommodation in safari lodges, it is hard for people of the same sex to book a deluxe room (a room with 1 double bed) and share it without causing any suspicions on the side of the hotel staff (which is still not a threat because they can't do anything about it since you are giving them business) implicating you have to book a twin room if you are to share a room with your partner.

Considering that you now feel at peace to travel to this Amazing destination we guarantee that you will be loved and taken good care of while on your visit.

Contact musana tours and travel now for your memorable custom Uganda safari or Gorilla trekking tour. We will not only make a good selection of accommodations with you but we will go with you throughout the journey.