Our lives before we became refugees
Our Stories
We each once had a life, those we loved and a place we called our own. We had hopes and dreams for our future, and a relative freedom we could live with.
Until the day our family, friends and our community turned on us, threatening violence, bloodshed and even death. All because we were born a little differently than expected.
Homophobia is rife in many African countries, eagerly promoted by governments out of touch with the twenty-first century.
None of us had a choice but to flee from everything we had known, finding a somewhat limited sanctuary in a camp run by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), but controlled by local police and government dictates.
We each have a similar story about that day, shared below, and a constant reminder of how life can be so unfair.
Protus’s Story (Boutique advisor)
My name is Wambewa Protus Mukasa. I am a proud gay man, age 28 from Uganda. (Wambewa is a clan name.) I am sharing details
Campos’s Story (Mechanical technician)
Campos My name is Campos, a Congolese man aged 27. I am one of the persecuted LGBT asylum seekers and refugees in Kakuma Refugee Camp
Sara’s Story (Milk trader)
I’m called Sara, a 32-year-old Ugandan lesbian woman with two children. My son Efrema is aged 5. My daughter is Ciara, six years old. We
Anna’s Story (Mother of Raymond)
My name is Annah Watsemba, born in Uganda and a female 30 years old. I am the mother of my child boy Raymond Waboka. Suspended
Zaya’s Story (Fisherman)
I am Zaya, a gay man from Rweru in Burundi, aged 34. I was a fisherman back in Burundi. Fishing was my life, across Lake
Gabi’s Story (Truck driver)
I’m called Gabi. I’m a gay Rwandan man aged 35 years. I arrived in Kakuma Camp in 2021 after escaping persecution. About me and my
Harden’s Story (Working student)
Harden My name is Harden. I’m a national Ugandan gay man aged 21. My life and love in a nutshell This is my story. I
Ratif’s Story (Teacher)
I am Ratif, a Rwandese gay man aged 26. My early years In Kigali – Rwanda, I grew up in a family where I was
Abdullah’s Story (High school student)
I am Abdullah, 24 years old, male, and born in 2001. I started getting interested in fellow genders in my former high school. According to
John’s Story (Manicurist)
I loved and lost. My name is Solomon John Lukwago. I am 31, gay and from Luwero in central Uganda. Here is my story, up
Sheri’s Story (Netballer)
I am Sharifah. I prefer people to call me Sheri. My age is 22, and I am from Kamuli district in Uganda. Proudly, I was
Fahim’s Story. (Photographer)
Fahim I’m called Fahim, a gay 29-year-old Ugandan man. I studied well in primary, college and university; I qualified as a professional photographer. I had
Our lives before we became refugees
Our Stories
We each once had a life, those we loved and a place we called our own. We had hopes and dreams for our future, and a relative freedom we could live with.
Until the day our family, friends and our community turned on us, threatening violence, bloodshed and even death. All because we were born a little differently than expected.
Homophobia is rife in many African countries, eagerly promoted by governments out of touch with the twenty-first century.
None of us had a choice but to flee from everything we had known, finding a somewhat limited sanctuary in a camp run by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), but controlled by local police and government dictates.
We each have a similar story about that day, shared below, and a constant reminder of how life can be so unfair.
Protus’s Story (Boutique advisor)
My name is Wambewa Protus Mukasa. I am a proud gay man, age 28 from Uganda. (Wambewa is a clan name.) I am sharing details
Campos’s Story (Mechanical technician)
Campos My name is Campos, a Congolese man aged 27. I am one of the persecuted LGBT asylum seekers and refugees in Kakuma Refugee Camp
Sara’s Story (Milk trader)
I’m called Sara, a 32-year-old Ugandan lesbian woman with two children. My son Efrema is aged 5. My daughter is Ciara, six years old. We
Anna’s Story (Mother of Raymond)
My name is Annah Watsemba, born in Uganda and a female 30 years old. I am the mother of my child boy Raymond Waboka. Suspended
Zaya’s Story (Fisherman)
I am Zaya, a gay man from Rweru in Burundi, aged 34. I was a fisherman back in Burundi. Fishing was my life, across Lake
Gabi’s Story (Truck driver)
I’m called Gabi. I’m a gay Rwandan man aged 35 years. I arrived in Kakuma Camp in 2021 after escaping persecution. About me and my
Harden’s Story (Working student)
Harden My name is Harden. I’m a national Ugandan gay man aged 21. My life and love in a nutshell This is my story. I
Ratif’s Story (Teacher)
I am Ratif, a Rwandese gay man aged 26. My early years In Kigali – Rwanda, I grew up in a family where I was
Abdullah’s Story (High school student)
I am Abdullah, 24 years old, male, and born in 2001. I started getting interested in fellow genders in my former high school. According to
John’s Story (Manicurist)
I loved and lost. My name is Solomon John Lukwago. I am 31, gay and from Luwero in central Uganda. Here is my story, up
Sheri’s Story (Netballer)
I am Sharifah. I prefer people to call me Sheri. My age is 22, and I am from Kamuli district in Uganda. Proudly, I was
Fahim’s Story. (Photographer)
Fahim I’m called Fahim, a gay 29-year-old Ugandan man. I studied well in primary, college and university; I qualified as a professional photographer. I had
