Friends Ugandan Safe Transport Fund

09 Feb

Praise Wancha: “The caring sister went ahead to tell me how such evil was trying to eat me up, to make me a lesbian.” — A Friends New Underground Railroad Story

Praise Wancha

I am called Praise Wancha, born in Mbale Nkokonjeru. I lost both my Parents to HIV/AIDS when I was hardly a year old (so am told) so I was taken on by the little sisters of Saint Francis in an Orphanage they supported.

I was loved and appreciated, I didn’t know I was an Orphan till the age of 12. Though I had so many questions, I really never minded the answers, after all I had so many “mothers” around me who loved and cared for me so much.

One thing in life which really bothered me was that I never had a father figure, kids at school used to tell all sorts of stories about their fathers, well it was really hard for me to miss what I didn’t know.

As I grew into teenager hood, something was not strange but rather different, I was attracted to fellow girls. I tried fighting it and caused more pains in my heart. I was confident enough to go and openly tell one of the sisters about my internal struggles. The caring sister was so touched and she explained to me what it means, and she went ahead to tell me how such evil was trying to eat me up, to make me a lesbian. We prayed and we were in agreement with God that it will all be well.

Little did I know that I was being stalked and watched closely by all the sisters and the Mother Superior.

Despite my efforts to force my self to get attracted to boys in school, I failed, the more I tried the more I hate to even associate with boys within the high school.

This was hard for me, these internal struggles made my class grades and marks drop, to heal my self, I started becoming so stubborn and bullying other students and a tomboy.

Chance came my way when another girl who was different from other students joined our school, it didn’t take long for us to start dating, we even made agreements to start sharing a decker-bed. This landed us into trouble and just before our final exams we were both suspended.

The sisters weren’t impressed and I was put into isolation and asked to dedicate my self to a life of prayers, this made me become suicidal and I attempted to take my life on more than 3 attempts. Inside me, I came up with a plan to run away. I lied to one of the sisters that I wanted to go for confession to the father. The sisters were impressed, so I was allowed to go.

I never returned, I disappeared. This took me to a whole new world, a life of drugs, crime and scandals. This drew a lot of attention to me and my other fellow gals, so we decided to move to another town. We just kept on moving from one town to another. We risked so much. At 21 I looked as though I was an old woman of 50 yrs, drugs had taken a heavy stand on me, I accepted to seek for help. I did some little research and it landed me into the hands of one activist who changed my life. This man who has lived his life for others talked to me and he was the first person who made me feel that there is hope in life.

He worked with other volunteers to help me fight my drinking and drug problems, he had created safe spaces for lesbians and we socialized and even start thinking big, some of us were even enrolled into life skills training, where I learnt making baking. By 2013 I was making a living by baking cakes, I had both gay and straight clients.

But when the Ugandan government went harder on the gays, there was a lot of unrest within our community and when the radio stations started outing our names and addresses, Uganda wasn’t home after the president signed the AHB into law. Several of us went into hiding and by July of 2014 we had gotten help to leave Uganda, thanks to a rather little known Organization called FNUR. These guys rock despite all the criticisms they managed to save some of our lives without so much long waiting. They coordinated with people on the ground and we were transported out of Uganda.

Am now settled in Kigali Rwanda where am living my life, earning a living by making cakes for all sorts of events. Thanks FNUR for saving my life and God bless you all.

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Please make a donation to support the work of Friends New Underground Railroad so that we can help other people like Praise Wancha.
http://friendsugandansafetransport.org/donate/
Thanks!

Download Praise Wancha’s story in pdf format here.

05 Feb

Shocking Comments by Republican Human Rights Chairman

February 5, 2015 – African HRC Staff

Human Rights Chairman – ‘Homosexual Rights Are Not Human Rights’ Chris Smith

Republican Chris Smith of New Jersey, who currently serves as a senior member on the Foreign Affairs Committee, and is chairman of its “Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organization Subcommittee,” has come under fire for comments he made during a January 27th subcomittee hearing-

He boldly told the panel- “I am a strong believer in traditional marriage, and do not construe homosexual rights as human rights.” Smith made his comments before badgering a witness as to whether “the Obama administration has hindered U.S. aid to Nigeria by supporting the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community.”

03 Feb

Mukwenda Elijah: “Through thick and thin, I was finally accepted and am living happily in Norway.” — A Friends New Underground Railroad Story

Mukwenda Elijah

Could you believe me if I told you that without the love, care and passion of FNUR to help the fleeing queers from Uganda, I could be dead by now. After being exposed publically for being gay in May/14, I was short of options.

I wanted just to die but having been a client to one organization which was serving queers in my areas, I approached and told them, my life is at danger and immediate risk. This was after my rental house was burnt down by a gang of homophobic thugs.

Yes, am so grateful to FNUR for what they did for me. Through thick and thin, I was finally accepted and am living happily in Norway. The opportunities here are endless but I have to learn the Western culture and also the Norwegian language.

Thanks once again FNUR.

Mukwenda Elijah
Oslo Norway
23^rd Dec 2014

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Please make a donation to support the work of Friends New Underground Railroad so that we can help other people like Mukwenda Elijah.

http://friendsugandansafetransport.org/donate/

Thanks!

Download Mukwenda Elijah’s story in PDF format here.

03 Feb

O.K. wrote, “Should I be killed for being different or who I love or what I do in the bedroom…?” — A Friends New Underground Railroad Story

What does it take to change the world? I know it’s a lot but one thing is real, change doesn’t just happen it takes every one of us. Change starts within.

Unlike in other countries where that’s true, in Uganda its different – the Ugandan parliament is proud and happy that they are making laws to ensure that any gay person is killed and anybody who associates with the gays is guilty of a crime. I can’t believe that in 2015 educated Ugandans can still do that. Well it happens and is still happening.

Several ordinary Ugandans take the laws in their own hands and find it comfortable to stone any suspected gay person. They can’t wait for the law to take its own course. They can’t wait for the police to do their work though. I don’t expect any gay person to get justice in Uganda because almost everybody is against the gay persons.

I know I was born gay, yes I was born this way. Should I be killed for being different or who I love or what I do in the bedroom with my boyfriend? I don’t think that’s right.

I commend the work of Organizations like Amnesty International and FNUR who came out openly to help gays escape Uganda and also call upon the Ugandan government to stop such crimes against humanity.

When everything seemed blue, FNUR came out openly to help those gays willing to flee Uganda. I am among the few lucky ones who benefited from underground rail operations funded by FNUR. Though am at my final destination within Africa, for the horror I went through while still in Uganda I am still traumatized and I can’t expose my location.

Thanks FNUR.

Yours truly
O.K.

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Please make a donation to support the work of Friends New Underground Railroad so that we can help other people like O.K.

http://friendsugandansafetransport.org/donate/

Thanks!

Download O.K.s story in PDF format here.

30 Jan

NEWS: Nine young gay men, attacked by mob, arrested and tortured by Uganda police – They were subject to torture in jail

28 January 2015 | by Joe Morgan | Gay Star News

Nine young gay men, who were attacked by a homophobic mob, were arrested by Uganda police and tortured while in jail.

They could face charges of sodomy, and could be punished with life imprisonment.

Read the whole article here: http://www.gaystarnews.com/ARTICLE/NINE-YOUNG-GAY-MEN-ATTACKED-MOB-ARRESTED-AND-TORTURED-UGANDA-POLICE280115

28 Jan

The First Ugandan Transgender Love Story (VIDEO)

by Jonny von Wallström
Huffington Post / 12/09/2014

“For the past 18 months I’ve been working on a documentary called The Pearl of Africa, which captures a personal story about love, hate and being transgender in one of the world’s most transphobic places, Uganda.

“I first met Cleopatra Kambugu in June 2012 when I was introduced to her through friends. I was fascinated by her determination to be the first Ugandan transgender woman accepted for her true gender identity. Despite the hate and violent history in her country, she wanted to humanize trans people.”

Read the whole article here:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jonny-von-wallstrom/the-first-ugandan-transgender-love-story_b_6291260.html

The YouTube channel for all six episodes of The Pearl of Africa” including the one above are at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP4iXOk2RqiXsAZA0nRO_hQ

Website for the film “The Pearl Of Africa”where you can learn more about it and about Cleo: http://pearlofafrica.tv/

20 Jan

Urgent! Thirty-six Ugandan Students Need Your Help!

There are now 34 Ugandan lesbians and two transwomen ages 20-25 in hiding. They were chased from different schools, colleges, universities and institutions. All of them are students – of nursing, education, tourism, social work and social administration.

At least one of them was badly beaten and almost killed in an assault “by mean and heartless thugs.” They are all at risk of more assaults and worse until we can fund them getting out of the country.

Please help! We need to to raise the money to get them transported out of Uganda.

We need $1800 for transportation plus another $315 for lodging.

Can you make a donation today and help spread the word?

Make a donation with PayPal here:

Information to make a donation with a check is here: http://friendsugandansafetransport.org/donate/ Please let us know you are sending it so we can plan.

Thanks!
Gabi Clayton
Manager, Friends New Underground Railroad

20 Jan

AK: “Once all the facts were gathered within just less than 12 hrs we were rescued. Now that’s practical help, that’s love.” — A Friends New Underground Railroad Story

Hello FNUR, needless to say I could be dead and forgotten if you hadn’t work so hard and struggle to get me out of eastern Uganda where there was likely to be a massive massacre of all those suspected to gay. I remember very well and those memories haunt me up to today.

As many organizations were sitting in their Air conditioned offices in the city, you didn’t want to waste time to save us from the danger, you only asked for the important questions.

Is it real?
Are we at risk?
Are there people within the area who can help us escape?

Once all the facts were gathered within just less than 12 hrs we were rescued. Now that’s practical help, that’s love. I remember crying tears of joy as we walked the border line crossing into another country where we were processed together with others and finally freedom, hope, peace of mind and joy were renewed. We knew we are leaving Uganda, some knew we left for good, some left loved ones, others left haters but one thing is for sure, we were not loved in Uganda because we were born gay, we were born different.

Even if the law changes for the best today, I can’t go back to Uganda, I have decided even to change my nationality from Ugandan to Rwandan, am studying my french and happily working on a wage system.

There are hundreds of straight Ugandan people who come to Rwanda every day for work and business but I do my best to avoid them. They are haters and I am sure if identified they can harm any gay people. So am staying calm and just minding my business.
I am now dating a loving and caring man who is helping me start a new life.

Thanks so much FNUR.

Lots of love, one love.
AK

[fruitful_sep]

Please help Friends New Underground Railroad support other people like AK.
Donate here: http://friendsugandansafetransport.org/donate/

You can download AK’s story here.

14 Jan

Nineteen Transgender Ugandan People in Extreme Danger – An Emergency Appeal from Friends New Underground Railroad

01-14-15 Right now there are 19 transgender people in hiding in extreme danger. They are being hunted and have run to a hiding place where we learned about them. They are hungry, desperate, some are almost naked, and they are crying because they are terrified.

THIS IS A CRISIS SITUATION. When day breaks their hiding place will no longer be safe.

A person who is connected with the conductors that FNUR supports has given them some food, bedding, and encouragement for now but they must be moved out of Uganda. Today! He wrote:

“Any simple mistake and they will be killed. You have no idea how bloodthirsty this village is.”

In the last two weeks we have supported 198 people to escape Uganda. The need is getting more and more urgent as we are closer to the new version of the Anti-Homosexuality law passing. Mobs aren’t waiting; they are now attacking LGBT people where they find them.

The transporter one of the conductors usually works with is in the middle of getting 98 LGBT people out and so he is not able to do this. There is a backup transporter known to the conductor who will ensure these 19 transgender people get out of the country, but he has to be paid before he can do it and he charges $78 for each person.

So we need to raise $1,482.00 NOW to get these people to safety.

Will you please help?!

Make a donation to FNUR so that we can help save these 19 transgender men and women.

To get donations to us quickly, please send through our PayPal account here:
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=MLJJ9UY5Z2NRS

If you can’t do that and want to send a check, the information about that is here:
http://friendsugandansafetransport.org/donate/
Please send us a message to let us know it is coming for this.

Please share this with your contacts.

Thank you,
Gabi Clayton
Manager, Friends New Underground Railroad

Download this appeal here in PDF format.

NOTE: We changed our name from “Friends New Underground Railroad” to “Friends Ugandan Safe Transport Fund” on May 10, 2015.

14 Jan

R’s Story: “Thanks FNUR – you are the heroes”

Born in a powerful Christian family, my dad has planted many churches in and around Uganda. I was raised in church. My dad at 59 is still a powerful pastor in some of the biggest churches. I don’t wana expose the “fool” right now as am still trying to forgive him and do away with hate and pain in my heart.

I went to Christian schools founded on Christian principles. However all my life I knew I am not like any other gal. This made me withdraw a lot from socialising with fellow teenage girls of my age. My mother noticed so early and she always talked to me. Till I told her that mummy, I’m sexually attracted to fellow girls, she became so mad at me. But by high school I had known my sexual orientation and I wanted it to appear known to the family. I tried all sorts of help thinking it might be a problem, but before joining university I made peace with my heart that I am a lesbian, having attempted several suicide attempts because of lack of support and care, I said it’s all well, I am a lesbian and that’s it.

Stubbornly during a family meeting I went with my ex-gal (RIP – Sharon who committed suicide in 2013 when we separated) and introduced her to the family as my girl. I thought my braveness will force the family to accept me, I knew dad and mummy loved me. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to pull this off. We were flogged and chased away, never to return. This was in 2011 and that’s the last time I saw a blood family member. We changed towns, moving from one town to another till we decided that life isn’t for us in towns. We decided to settle in the rural, even in the rural sometimes word could get around as the community saw us as strange.

As we were considering to go and settle in Northern Uganda, seek employment and try to live a normal life, Sharon took her life. We were not getting along considering the countless problems we were going through. This was so hard on me and I decided to move to another rural area targeting areas where people are most likely not to mind me.

Financial struggles reached a limit where I even considered entering prostitution but the thought of having to sleep with a man made me feel as if the world was ending. In Uganda unless you are in the city it’s hard to get a lesbian willing to pay for sex.

As I was still being bothered by all those troubles, hell broke loose and shit was more tight than I can even talk here. The gay bill was signed into law and my father didn’t waste time to preach about it and how God gave him the powers to chase me from the family, clan, and later alone get me banished from the community. He was happy that he hadn’t heard from me. A secret incloset church member updated me once in a while.

A simple mistake got me exposed in the rural place where I was staying, and the village took it upon themselves to beat me to confess that I am a lesbian. But since I had made contact with a fearless activist, I will call him SB, who introduced me to Tony some time back, I directly jumped on a bodaboda [motorcycle taxi] and went to their hiding place. I was welcomed. It disturbs me that Tony passed on, having worked to save many gays from death together with FNUR. They viewed my case with so many questions but through their connections they researched and knew my case was real. FNUR provided the transport and an escape route and I left Uganda.

In Sept, I was given a working and stay Visa in UEA and a one Rob paid for my airticket.

Am now working in one of the world largest malls, I have housing, a job, feed well and have hope. It’s so hot in Dubai compared with Uganda, I used to think it’s so conservative but people here are so busy and just mind their business. When the storm settles, governments change, laws turned down, I will return to Uganda one day and tell dad that you were an asshole.

Thanks FNUR – you are the heroes, Uganda needs more of FNUR, these are servants who only need you to be out of danger. I think many foundations and charities have a lot to learn from FNUR. They help while giving you respect. I have met a few other lesbians who escaped through other organisations but gosh, it’s gross, they tell their ordeal, how they were made feel inhuman, they had to show that they are lesbians, some even to an extent of showing their privacy to people who wanted to take advantage of them. Some even had to bribe to be accepted, visible help but maybe a few connections, they had to hand in their passwords of the social media and emails, bring pictures. That was so bad, others just decided to give up, some went into hiding, some took their lives. That’s why I have all praises for FNUR. Thanks once again, I wish to wish you a happy 2015 if we get there but with God’s love we shall made it to 2015

Cheers folks
R

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Download R’s story in PDF format here.

Please make a donation to support the work of Friends New Underground Railroad so that we can help other people like R. http://friendsugandansafetransport.org/donate/

Thanks!