Gabi Clayton – Page 7 – Friends Ugandan Safe Transport Fund

03 Dec

A letter to Friends New Underground Railroad’s wonderful supporters.

This is the letter we sent to FNUR’s donors today:

A letter to Friends New Underground Railroad’s wonderful supporters.

December 2, 2014

Dear friend,

It has been almost eight months since the Friends New Underground Railroad was founded. We have made so many friends all over the world since we began making it possible for LGBT folks in Uganda who were at great risk for their lives and safety, to leave, and start new lives.

As of today, we – and you – have helped 705 people leave Uganda (including eight children, six straight allies, and at least 33 people who identify as transgender). Many are now in their final countries of destination – Canada, Sweden, Rwanda, South Africa, Norway, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Germany, and Ireland. And we are receiving their stories – and their thanks – for you.

There is Evelyn, a skilled midwife, and a lesbian, raped by her future husband at the insistence of her family and community. He gave her HIV. She is now working at a private clinic in Rwanda. Read her story here:http://friendsnewundergroundrailroad.org/evelyn-kemiremba-27-settling-in-rwanda-november-2014/

There is Nandi, a bisexual high school chemistry teacher outed by her husband and chased by a mob. She had to leave without even the chance to hug her son. http://friendsnewundergroundrailroad.org/nandis-story-i-wasnt-a-given-chance-to-even-hug-my-son-in-rwanda-now-nov-2014/

There is Robert, also escaping from a mob, who was one of Friends New Underground Railroad’s very first passengers. He made it to France, fell in love, married and is now happily living in Oslo, Norway.http://friendsnewundergroundrailroad.org/am-robert-and-i-love-happy-endings-25th-november-2014-at-oslo-norway/

There is SM, with a long history of being sexually exploited, who is now a conductor, who has pledged “unto death” to rescue LGBT people from rioting mobs and move them on to safety.http://friendsnewundergroundrailroad.org/if-everybody-runs-away-who-is-going-to-help-others-the-story-of-sm-a-fnur-conductor-in-uganda/

There is J, wife of Friends New Underground Railroad’s former conductor Katende Sam – straight allies who had to flee with an hour’s notice with their three children with only what they could carry, after helping more than 80 people escape under the most dangerous of situations in which several beating and burning deaths had already occurred.http://friendsnewundergroundrailroad.org/js-story-letter-from-the-wife-of-a-former-fnur-conductor/ andhttp://friendsnewundergroundrailroad.org/statement-of-a-fnur-conductor-xxxxx-aka-katende-sam-mr/

Then there is CL, driven out of the university like so many others and forced to flee from mob violence, now resettled in South Africa.http://friendsnewundergroundrailroad.org/cls-story-living-in-the-jaws-of-death-because-of-our-sexual-orientation-and-an-appeal/ There are currently 10 more lesbian university students on the Friends New Underground Railroad’s waiting list.

There is Michael, one of the Friends New Underground Railroad’scourageous transporters who shares his story of being inspired and transformed by one of our first conductors (who lost a kidney after being beaten within an inch of his life). Michael has inspired his entire workforce to lend a hand even when other doors are slammed.http://friendsnewundergroundrailroad.org/testimony-from-michael-a-railroad-transporter/

The Railroad has not been without its losses. We are still in mourning the loss of our conductor Tony. Tony was pressed into service when his predecessor, S., was beaten so badly that he suffered intracranial hemorrhaging, a broken skull, and multiple rib contusions, requiring a very difficult medical evacuation. S. is now in detention in Canada, awaiting a hearing on his request for permanent refugee/asylum status. Tony was a 35-year-old pharmacist with, obviously, no experience in these matters, but daring, great resolve, and a huge heart for people. In three months, working himself sick, he engineered the escape of almost 280 passengers, including five children. Returning from his last mission (which involved three of the children), he suffered a blood clot in his lung, which was traveling to his heart. He was operated on successfully, but when he returned to the ward, it was found that he had been doing all of with work with the Friends New Underground Railroad while suffering from malaria, typhoid, active tuberculosis, worms, bacterial dysentery, and severe malnutrition. His spirit, we would like to believe, continues to animate everything we do.http://friendsnewundergroundrailroad.org/we-have-lost-tony-one-of-the-railroad-conductors-we-need-to-raise-money-for-his-burial-asap/

Our work is, sadly, far from over. The Ugandan Parliament is close to voting on a new Anti-Homosexuality Bill that we have heard will be even worse than the last. Among other provisions, those who house, feed, transport, or assist gay people in any way can be subject to up to 10 years in prison.

The Friends New Underground Railroad is operated by Africans for Africans. Our role is to tell their stories and to raise funds to support them doing the brave and remarkable tasks they have taken on for Ugandan people.

Each escape costs us between $55 and $185, depending on route, mode of transportation, and interim destination. There have been some other expenses such as medical care and temporary lodging while waiting to cross into other countries.

So not to sugarcoat it, we need your continuing support.
Yes, we need money – and every little bit helps! Not one donated penny and not one Ugandan shilling has gone to our personal expenses or those of our conductors – we are all volunteers. And Olympia Friends Meeting (Quakers) doesn’t take a cut.

We know many of you have already donated. We hope you will again and we hope you will let your family, your friends, your neighbors and your colleagues know how much we need their support as well.

We need the opportunity to tell our story in your community – in LGBT groups, churches, meetings, synagogues, civic organizations – either in person, or via Skype. We need contact with your local media, your local newspaper or NPR or community radio affiliate. And we need your prayers and good thoughts.

So now you know what needs to be done. We and our brave conductors will keep plowing ahead – the rest is up to you.

Download this letter in pdf format which includes a form you can send with a check:
http://friendsugandansafetransport.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/FriendsNewUndergroundRailroadFundraisingLetter-12-02-14.pdf

If you prefer to contribute (one time or monthly) on-line via PayPal, visit:
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=MLJJ9UY5Z2NRS

Thank you!
Ubarikiwe! (“Be Blessed!” in Kishwahili),

Gabi Clayton, Manager
Friends New Underground Railroad

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03 Dec

Am Robert and I love happy endings … 25th November 2014 at Oslo Norway

A Friends New Underground Railroad Story

What could I do without FNUR? I don’t know! Maybe I could be dead and forgotten.

I am called Robert, am one of the first beneficiaries of FNUR when it was first established early this year.

I was attacked by a group of thugs who call themselves “The City Gate Keepers” it’s a criminal gang but appreciated and respected in Uganda because they are fighting the gay persons. So when I was beaten up and left almost dead, there was no point in me reporting to the police, I just realized that it was time for me to run. I can’t remember all the facts because I arrived in Nairobi Kenya in an Ambulance, I was treated at Imara Health Center and later the University Hospital the medical bill was in thousands of dollars and the FNUR was there for me.

My other friend I could call Rob, was also there for me. Luck was on my side, after completely healing and recovering I got a visa to France and still my airticket was paid by Rob. I settle in France and later on fell in love with Kristoffer and on Oct/14 we got married. In November because of my marriage ties with Kristoffer we moved to Oslo Norway.

My life has changed and I have hope and looking at the future. Thanks FNUR for all you have done for me. I love happy endings.

(Note: FNUR funded Robert’s passage out of Uganda. Others paid his hospital bill.)

Download a pdf copy of “Am Robert and I love happy endings … 25th November 2014 at Oslo Norway” here: http://friendsugandansafetransport.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/AmRobertAndIloveHappyEndings.pdf

Please make a donation to support the work of Friends New Underground Railroad: http://friendsugandansafetransport.org/donate/

Thank you!

02 Dec

Breaking Ugandan Activist Attacked by Mob taken to Intensive Care – by Melanie Nathan

BREAKING UGANDAN ACTIVIST ATTACKED BY MOB TAKEN TO INTENSIVE CARE

By Melanie Nathan, November 28, 2014.

A Ugandan human rights defender and activist known in the LGBT community has been brutally attacked today by a mob and rushed to a Kampala emergency hospital.

After a loss of blood, from what seems like multiple injuries, including a badly injured eye, Kelly Mukwano, was administered first aid, collapsed and was sent to intensive care, where he is currently stabilized and undergoing treatment.

Kelly has been subject to persecution by police with several arrests. After an October arrest, he described his ordeal with police as “the most trying moment of my life.”

Please read the whole article by Melanie Nathan about this assault in Uganda and about the ongoing sanctioned culture of violence there: http://oblogdeeoblogda.me/2014/11/28/breaking-ugandan-activist-attacked-by-mob-in-intensive-care/

02 Dec

Breaking the Silence – The Story of MK. And An Appeal to Fund Ten Lesbian Women Hiding for Two Months Out of Uganda!

Breaking the Silence – The Story of MK.

A Friends New Underground Railroad Story – December 1, 2014

Finally I break the silence! What took me so long to speak out? I don’t know but I was just taking my time, waiting for the right opportunity. I have suffered so many internal struggles, so many fears, so many setbacks and failures. I have had 15 attempts on my life, so by organized gangs, some random attacks, some by blood relates, some by dates from hell. I can run short of fingers counting how many times I have contemplated suicide as a solution to my problem, I have tried taking by life by a rope and rat poison. I have changed religions several times till I decided to become a humanist. Well, it has taken me long to find internal peace and comes to terms with life as it.

I got involved with a small rural gay Organization in 2008, after saving 2 years in Luzira Prison for homosexuality related charges, a fearless frontline human rights activist I won’t mention here had started this small Organization in Eastern Uganda, “AW” had followed my case from the very start, he even got for me a lawyer to help but we lost the case and I went to jail, where I served for 2 years, on my release AW made arrangements so that I have a safe place to stay and he got me involved within the operation of the Organization. This work gave me love and relative peace of mind, though we were doing it at extreme risk. Later on AW had to run out of Uganda and went and settled in Canada though love, care and passion for the LGBTq work and what was happening in Uganda at the time, forced him to return to Uganda to add his voice and fight the then AHB, though he still lost and it was signed into law and again it was time for him and me to run out of Uganda.

My dedication and commitment to work, saw me become one of the pillars of this Organization, at one point early this year, several LGBTq people were being rounded up, beaten, killed in cold blood, forced into hiding, imprisoned, mob attacks, mob justice, blackmail, exposing etc.

We had to do something yet fundraising for LGBTq Organizations in a country like Uganda is not easy but we needed resources to keep our operations going on. That’s women fate brought us into contact with the likes of Levi and Gabi who are quakers based in Washington US. Through an organized meeting there was a break through when FNUR accepted to fund our operations to help with the escape of LGBTq at extreme and real immediate risk. We set up base in a neighboring country to coordinate those arriving from Uganda. They were being processed by or ground “home” team in Uganda and being sent to us in the dead of night. Earlier in the years AW had established a working relationship with an established transporter, Michael, who is involved in tours and travel. Michael is a special character, he is one business man with a heart for people and the world could be a better place with more people like him. He used his extensive experience and local knowledge to make sure that all the passengers in movement always reached us in the neighboring country without any problem. He is a dedicated man working with drivers who share his love and passion for humans. He worked with AW to create several escape routes, got godfathers within the immigrations and police (okay call them corrupt officials but they are helping us in times of need) Every after 2 or 3 days I was always at the bus terminal receiving passengers who have escaped death in Uganda. I could always welcome them, getting them counseling, a place to stay and then stay the long, painful and unforgiving process of securing them visas to their final destination, once they received visas I could again look around for funders who could pay for their tickets. Some of the funders were strangers; some were not strangers but wanted to act strangers. I could like to recognize a one couple whose family moved from Netherlands to Canada way many years ago. This couple I could call I & R …. donated tickets and money, in this way they were supplementing the work of the Quakers – FNUR who could help with the escape to the nearest safe place.

While I was still in office handling the affairs of this operation, we managed to safe over 260 clients, who we call passengers. Most of them are now settling in other countries around the world. I feel so happy that none of our passengers made it to the UN Refugee Camps, we operated so different from the long red tapes and processes of other refugee operations, our policy was simple, does so and so a client want to leave, is he or she at extreme risk and danger, is the danger immediate, is he or she gay? Does our transporter have fuel in his van or bus, are all the facts real and very well researched and verified? Then we are good to go. This kind of simplicity attracted world attention and the haters wanted to fail the program. Some thought a lot of many was being misused but when I see our clients establishing them several in Canada, Netherlands, Rwanda, South Africa, UAE, Norway, France, Germany, Sweden name it, am like yeeee we made it, thanks to the FNUR who set the ball rolling.

I am 100% confident to state that without FNUR made gay men and women from many rural parts of Uganda could be dead, forced to take their own lives, in jail or injured. You FNUR rock and I admire you. What you did and still doing in remarkable.

Having worked as one of the conductors and also as a “Bus stage manager” I was also at risk so I time came when I decided to leave, I traveled to Canada when everybody didn’t expect me, I wanted to be in a free country on arrival I realized things were not going to be the same and a lot has changed by the government in power when it comes to immigration laws and asylum seekers. I don’t like to be slowed down, considering that I was likely to in incarceration or some form of detention I was like nope, I have already suffered enough, I can’t and I won’t stay in Canada, I contact a friend and I was able to apply for a working Visa in UAE. I am confident enough to say that despite the punishing heat and the conservative laws in UAE, nobody minds me, nobody cares that maybe am different and I have a nice job, nice accommodation and making friends who don’t judge.

Without FNUR this couldn’t have been possible.

I enjoyed working with FNUR and given time I will start giving back to FNUR for they saved my life

Thanks, thank you so Much

M.K

Download a PDF file of this story here.

Appeal! Fund Ten Lesbian Women Hiding for Two Months Out of Uganda!

There are ten lesbian women have been hiding for two months with help from a conductor while waiting for the funds to support their escape from Uganda.

Please make a donation to support the work of Friends New Underground Railroad!
http://friendsugandansafetransport.org/donate/

23 Nov

Nandi’s Story – “I wasn’t a given chance to even hug my son.” In Rwanda now, Nov. 2014.

A Friends New Underground Railroad Story

I go by the name of Nandi. Am 28yrs of age and a professional teacher of Chemistry. I used to teach at a Catholic school ([name] Senior Secondary School) Being a science teacher was lucky to get a job soon after completing my bachelor’s degree at [name] University. I was assigned to teacher Senior 2 and Senior 4.

Early this year my life changed forever. I have always guided my personal secrets because I used to live in a very homophobic country. Living in such a hostile environment I took no chances, only fellow bisexual girlfriends and a few lesbians knew that I was bisexual. I covered it up very well right from my earlier days as a teenager. I realized that I was different from other girls when I was about 15yrs, I was always attracted to both girls and boys.

As during my second year at [name] university, I chanced on dating a boy it was love but still I had several girl friends for open relationship and I have a confession to make I loved having sex with girls more than boys. I stayed with A for years and when I had just started working I got pregnant and A was happy, he wanted to make our relationship official but I told him, no please. Though he wasn’t so happy with my negative we were still happy. I lived a double live of having a full time boyfriend and father of Isaac my son in the house and at one again having a girlfriend, a lover – V, loved so much and I could do anything for her. I suffered inside, I decided to confide in A about my secret life so I can be a little more free

As the news of signing the Anti – gay law was running in every media across the global on the 14th of Feb, I was on a romantic dinner with A at Garden hotels at the Nile. We enjoyed ourselves and after hugging and kissing him, I opened up to him! He laughed it off and said it’s a joke, it can’t be true. He asked for proof, so I showed him pictures, short videos, messages and recorded conversations with V. A almost fainted. He went silent and walked away from the hotel gardens, he went to his parents and his parents called him by the time I reached home, everything was different. He asked me to leave immediately, of course I resisted but when security and mobs picked interest I had to run away, the following morning I went to explain to the headmaster of the school where I was teaching but he had already reached the news, I wasn’t asked to resign or given any letters of terminating my contract but asked to leave. All my students were told and some fellow teachers tried to make it though I was even trying to hit on them and also sleep with female students

I wasn’t given a chance to even hug my son, there was nowhere to run. That’s when I remembered a small charity where we once went for team building and socialization one evening with V. They welcomed me with open hands and advised me on what to do, I got a travel document in a record time.

A one person I am going call AW was so helpful, with almost nothing he managed to take me somewhere as he coordinated support, within 3 days we had the financial and moral support from FNUR in USA. The money they sent was able to get me to another country where I stayed for 2months before finally being accepted to settle in Kigali Rwanda where am working as a teacher

Am so grateful to FNUR for the support and I highly recommend their services and work.

—

Please support the work of Friends Underground Railroad with a donation so we can help more people like Nandi. Donate here. Thank you!

And please share this story. Download the PDF document here.

22 Nov

Evelyn Kemiremba 27 – Settling in Rwanda, November 2014

A Friends New Underground Railroad Story.

Am called Evelyn Kemirembe. My friends call me Eve, though I don’t know if I have any true friends in this world. Am not afraid to say that am a lesbian and only attracted to gals sexually. Its unfortunate that I was born and raised in Uganda, a country where am a social outcast, in Uganda I was considered mentally disabled, a curse and evil.

Am a trained midwife who graduated in 2011 with flying colors and everybody celebrated, on the eve of my graduation, my father hinted on it that I should get married as the village is complaining as to why am not married, somehow this went into a hot heated discussion involving several of our family members and clansmates. It was common knowledge to everybody that am a lesbian, so the clan meeting concluded that I be cured of my lesbianism. This means that an able man is identified on the Village and he publically rapes me before the clan members. Because the family members feared that I was going to run away, I was put under house arrest till the following morning and at 10Am, the event took place, I was raped, ashamed, embarrassed and dead inside, if only I had a chance before the public raping, I could just take my life. To make the matters worse, the man who raped me also infected me with HIV/AIDS, after days of several rituals and cultural performance I was forcefully married off to the man and my parents asked for big bride price.

To cut the long story short, I ran away from my marriage within 3 weeks and I was depressed for over a year, and I even failed to get a job as I was not myself, the man had not only raped me, ashamed me, embarrassed me and took away who I am, but also gave me HIV/AIDS and impregnated me. Being a trained medical worker I aborted at 2months.

Early year I got a job, no sooner had I started working, than the news went out about my sexual orientation and though the management loved me and appreciated my work, they had to ask me leave, when I insisted to stay, the police was involved and since the public knew little about the Anti – gay law which was later turned down, my life was at stake, I was at extreme risk, and with no family or real friends, it was time for me to run.

Saving the world details, I benefited from the timely, quick and instant support from the FNUR Quakers, all they needed to know was if was claim was real and honest, it wasn’t hard to prove my case, it was investigated by some dedicated volunteers who put their own lives on daily risk to save others. I was put on the list, called the passengers’ list and the coordinator (who has now passed on in the line of duty) did all he can to give me and others the support we needed to cross to a safe country. We were met by ground support who helped us process papers and am happy to say that, Uganda is no longer home, even if it becomes a free country. Am happy to settle here in Rwanda where fewer people mind my sexual orientation.

Without FNUR and the Quakers, I could be dead, like many of my fellow lesbians in Uganda. It hurts her few cases make it to the International news. The whole should do more for the Lesbians and Gays in Uganda. More investments should be made to document cases of hate crime against the Lesbians and gays.

Am now settling in Kigali Rwanda, working with a private clinic.

My life story is longer than I can ever share but as I put myself together, I will keep on writing.

—

Please support the work of Friends Underground Railroad with a donation so we can help more people like Evelyn. Donate here. Thank you!

And please share this story . Download the PDF document here.

20 Nov

News from Uganda: New anti-gay Bill in advanced stages

New anti-gay Bill in advanced stages
Daily Monitor – November 20, 2014

In contrast to the nullified Act, the new Bill avoids any explicit references to homosexuality, but seems to co-opt sections of the Penal Code, which prescribe, among others, a life sentence for “unnatural sexual practices.”

Unnatural sexual practices are defined in the draft Bill as a sexual act between persons of the same sex, or with or between transsexual persons, a sexual act with an animal and anal sex.

The proposed legislation also expands the definition of “promotion of unnatural sexual practices” and proposes a prison sentence of up to seven years for the promotion of homosexuality.

Funding for purposes of “promoting unnatural sexual practice” and protecting, housing or transporting homosexuals can also result in imprisonment of up to 10 years.

AND

Mr Frank Mugisha, founder of Sexual Minorities Uganda, told this newspaper homosexuals living in Uganda can expect renewed pressure.

“During the period when the law was in place, we experienced a steep increase in violent attacks and discrimination – not only from the police, but also from the surrounding community,” he said.

Mr Mugisha said expanding the definition of “promotion of unnatural sexual practices” will make it extremely difficult for his organisation to operate.

“Even my Facebook and Twitter accounts might get me arrested, since I am writing about homosexuality. With this legislation newspapers and media outlets could also get in trouble if they publish stories about homosexuality.”

Read the whole article:
http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/New-anti-gay-Bill-in-advanced-stages/-/688334/2528396/-/14e5eauz/-/

We expected this. We knew it was in the works.
APPEAL – We have much work to do. If you are able to support this work of funding the Ugandan conductors who are assisting LGBT Ugandan people who feel they must flee to another country to live, please donate to Friends New Underground Railroad.

Thanks,
Gabi Clayton

08 Nov

We Have Lost Tony – One of the Railroad Conductors. We Need to Raise Money for His Burial ASAP

This is a hard thing to write about. We are all grief-stricken. One of Friends New Underground Railroad’s Ugandan conductors, Tony, died today.

FNUR co-manager Talcott Broadhead wrote:

“There was a lot of bitter today. Not much sweet, sadly. A Ugandan conductor and dear friend who I have been working with for the past 6 months passed away a few hours ago. May he rest in power and …well….just rest. He moved mountains. He moved people. He is in my heart now forever.”

In Tony’s memory:
“If you have come here to help me, then you are wasting your time…But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.” –Lila Watson

Another Quaker we work with wrote:

“I have lost a brother and a friend. He rescued almost 300 people, including children. And did it all while he had typhoid, malaria, active tuberculosis, worms, acute dysentery, poor nutrition, and who knows what else. When he collapsed with the blood clot, the medical staff was amazed at all the other things wrong with him. And through it all, he carried on, with clear thinking, and even with humor (especially when I kept telling him to eat!)

In another culture and another time, he would be a legend greater than Oscar Schindler.”

Tony developed a blood clot in a lung. In Uganda, the second you don’t have cash to pay for your care the hospital throws you out. Tony’s care therefore was inconsistent. In the last two days he was cared for by a lovely man who we also work with. So his final days were in a loving and peaceful environment.

Tony’s family completely rejected him in his life and even in death they have turned their backs on him. The man who cared for him at the end wrote,

“Even his family isn’t interested or even accept his body because he was gay.”

It was such an honor to work beside Tony. I will miss this man who was an amazing friend and activist. This is a really a hard time for those of us who knew and loved this man and had the honor of working with him.

Tony was an inspiration for us in so many ways, and now we will carry him and carry on in this work that he was so passionate to do.

But first we need to bury his body. We need to raise $785 to have Tony buried ASAP. And we have less than $10 right now and none of us have the funds to pay this.

Please donate what you can to help us bury Tony and ask your friends to do so as well.

Thank you,
Gabi Clayton, co-manager of Friends New Underground Railroad

23 Oct

Soundings: “Olympia Friends offer hope to persecuted Ugandan gays”

by John Dodge, Staff writer – The Olympian – October 22, 2014

“Within two months of the bill’s passage, Olympia activists Gabi Clayon and Talcott Broadhead persuaded the Olympia Friends to sponsor a Friends New Underground Railroad project, raising money to help LGBT Ugandans escape their country under fear of persecution, arrest, violent beatings and death.

“Uganda’s constitutional court struck down the egregious anti-gay bill on Aug. 1, 2014, citing a legal technicality, but sidestepping any ruling on the merits of the bill.

“But striking the law from the books has not made life any easier, or safer, for lesbians, gays, bisexual and transgender Ugandans. Many LGBT Ugandans remain in hiding, fearing for their lives and desperately trying to flee the country, Clayton said.”

Read the whole article here: http://www.theolympian.com/2014/10/22/3384958_olympia-friends-offer-hope-to.html

Thank you to John Dodge for a great article about Friends New Underground Railroad and for including our Halloween fundraiser. We appreciate that he took the time to cover our project and the research that he clearly did.

22 Oct

Testimony from Michael, a Railroad Transporter

Greetings from my rainy and sunny town. It’s this time of the year when birds of all different parts of the country flock the banks of River Nile. They create sing heavenly music and many people come to watch them. Generally, as Christmas Season closes in, more Ugandans are likely to be in a happy mood, business picks up, Ugandans living abroad return home to spend the holidays with their families.

Unfortunately, those happy and smiley faces are hiding hatred inside. As a transporter who has traveled all over Uganda as I do my business, I have come to learn that it will take a while for Ugandans to be more welcoming and accepting of gay people. Over the years I have been doing a personal assessment of the situation and I have learned that for every 5 Ugandans I have spoken with, four are willing to commit a hate crime against a gay person, and they believe it is okay and not a crime to kill a gay person. When the anti-gay law was introduced in Uganda many politicians rose to stardom because they supported the law. When the Courts of law decided that the anti-gay law should be thrown out on technical grounds, the Ugandan government didn’t take responsibility to explain to the average Ugandans what was happening.

At the end of the day, local Ugandans, especially in the rural communities and villages, still believe the law is active, and when they see that the police aren’t doing their “work” they take the law in their own hands. That’s why there is an increased mob justice and attacks on gay persons in Uganda.

I have been in the transport business since 1973. I took on this business from my father who was also a transporter, and my grandfather was one of the first cab drivers during the colonial days. This business has given our family exposure and opportunity to learn that human beings can always be different in one way or another. I have met different people with different lines of thinking. I have met the good, the bad, the humanists, the believers, the gay, the straight, the cult leaders, the witches, the reds, the blues, the blacks, the whites, etc. This has taught me very important lessons of life, and I have come to accept and love human kinds however they may come to my life.

However, there is one character – W.A. – who touched my life (am afraid I can’t mention names – but he was one of the very first Friends New Underground Railroad conductors, and was beaten so badly that he lost a kidney, and still suffers from other injuries.) In 2008, he was standing at a bus stop having spent about five days in police cells. He looked sad, starved, abused, and not healthy. He wanted a lift, but he had no coin on him. But since I had space in the cab car I was driving, I decided to drop him off.

Along the way, we found a policeman being beaten by a group of university students who were striking. He told me to stop, and he moved out of the car and shouted at top of his voice “stop, please stop.” I wondered what this boy was up to. Well it worked, and the students stopped beating the police officer. He went on to preach to the students a message of nonviolence and how the day can be won when people agree to disagree. I tooted the horn of my car so that this young man could come back into the car and I drop him off. He was wasting my time yet he wasn’t going to pay even a coin. All along, the policeman was seated on the ground bleeding and the students were listening. W.A. asked me to allow the police officer sit in the car, so we could take him to the hospital. I feared saying no. As if W.A. was going to pay, I obeyed.

As we approached the hospital, W.A. started talking to the police officer. As they talked, I learnt that a few days ago, it was the same police officer who had arrested W.A. for his involvement in gay activities. This same police officer had flooded W.A’s police cell, and he was the same officer who hates gay people. It here I learned that W.A. was gay and runs a gay organization. And now W.A. was here saving him from a mob and taking him to the hospital. After taking the police officer to hospital, he went ahead and called the very police station where he had been and even went back to make a statement regarding the beaten police officer.

This act of love and forgiveness touched my heart and changed my life forever. I was like, okay so gay persons are more than simply same sex?!! It was something new in my life and to cut the long story short. W.A. became my first gay friend and he also introduced me to several other gay persons.

The recent events in Uganda have seen me make sacrifices to offer a service not many transporters are willing to offer. With one heart, I have used my business to transport over 400 gay persons out of Uganda at great risk. Organizations like Friends New Underground Railroad and a few individuals have made sure that I am always paid so that I can do the work without any setbacks. My drivers are always happy to work on these risky missions because they have always been treated with respect.

All the Quakers who unite themselves in Friends New Underground Railroad are very understanding and always sending apologies whenever there is a delay. Am so proud to be on their team.

Friends New Underground Railroad, your work is priceless!

Thanks and Best Regards

Michael

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