Transition magazine’s latest issue, Queer Uganda, depicts a harrowing vision of life under Uganda’s 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA). Through a blend of essays, short fiction, and poetry, this issue highlights the courage of artists who continue to speak out, even in the face of oppressive government laws designed to silence them.
The AHA, which criminalizes same-sex conduct and imposes harsh penalties for promoting homosexuality, has forced many in Uganda’s LGBTQ+ community to live in fear, censoring their own voices to stay out of prison. However, in this issue, writers and poets refuse to be silenced. As the introduction notes, “their courage to describe the reality they have been forced to live is beyond measure.”
Among these voices is Danson Kahyana who offers a searing overview of the AHA in “Controlling dissent, Controlling Sexuality in Uganda” and Mark Kennedy Nsereko, whose essay “I’m Telling You about Omukwano Ogw’ebikukuju” holds both individuals and the government accountable for their actions. Frederick John Lamp’s essay explores Bayard Rustin’s lesser-known role as an African art collector, while Dagmawi Woubshet and Sarah Ladipo Manyika interview artists Ashon Crawley and Bernardine Evaristo. The issue also features a number of creative works including poetry by Gloria Kincoco, Marcus Wicker, and zama madinana, and fiction by Nnamdi Oguike, Endria Richardson, and Kurotakaya.
With this latest issue, Transition magazine continues its reputation for promoting “tough-minded, far-reaching criticism, both cultural and political.” Explore Queer Uganda here!
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