Lazia Nabbanja is a Ugandan lesbian who has been active in the LGBTI community in the UK, both on behalf of Rainbows Across Borders and Out and Proud African LGBTI. She is much loved and respected in our community, and we reject any suggestion that she is somehow not a genuine lesbian.

Lazia’s asylum claim based on her sexuality was rejected by the Home Office and Immigration Tribunal. She then submitted a fresh claim exhibiting clear evidence that pictures of her attendance at Gay Pride events in the UK (and a report naming her) had appeared in a high-profile tabloid newspaper in Uganda and on high-visibility websites in that country with massive daily traffic. 

Powerful new evidence has arisen in Lazia’s case due to her story featuring on the Facebook page of a major Ugandan news channel which has over 1.1 million followers. She has already received multiple death threats and there is clear evidence that the Ugandan government has set up what it calls an anti-pornography committee to monitor homosexuality and lesbianism. In response to a question about that committee the Minister For Ethics in Uganda said this:  `We are going to attack and attack. I have fresh tactics. One of them is a censor gadget or machine. We are going to procure this machine and it will detect homos….’

Lazia’s oral permission hearing for Judicial Review was adjourned in the light of the new evidence and we require further funds for the next hearing and to take the case forward.

Please allow Lazia to continue her life in the UK and to live freely in an open, tolerant society.