Arua City, Uganda – Two young women are in custody in Uganda, facing potential life sentences after a police raid targeting alleged “same-sex activity.” Wendy Faith, 22, a musician known online as Torrero Bae and Alesi Diana Denise, 21, were arrested last week following reports from community members alleging they were seen kissing in public, according to Josephine Angucia, a police spokesperson for the West Nile region.
Angucia stated that authorities acted on information suggesting the women were involved in “queer and unusual acts believed to be sexual in nature,” and that their rented room was frequented by other women. The arrests come amid a climate of escalating persecution of LGBTQ+ individuals in Uganda, fueled by the country’s Anti-Homosexuality Act passed in May 2023.
The Anti-Homosexuality Act, one of the world’s most severe laws targeting LGBTQ+ people, prescribes life imprisonment for same-sex relationships and the death penalty for acts deemed “aggravated homosexuality.” The law has drawn widespread international condemnation, but remains in effect after Uganda’s constitutional court rejected a petition to overturn it in April 2024.
Frank Mugisha, executive director of Sexual Minorities Uganda (Smug), expressed alarm at the arrests, stating, “This incident is unjust and deeply troubling, and it is not an isolated case.” Mugisha reported a “sharp and disturbing increase” in reports of harassment, targeting, and arrests based on perceived sexual orientation or relationships in recent months.
Human Rights Watch documented the impact of the Anti-Homosexuality Act in a May 2025 report, “Uganda: Anti-LGBT Law Unleashed Abuse,” accusing authorities of widespread discrimination and violence against LGBTQ+ people since the law’s enactment. The Human Rights Awareness and Promotion Forum reported handling 956 cases targeting LGBTQ+ individuals, affecting 1,276 people, since the law was implemented in January.
Ugandan gay rights activist Hans Senfuma described a climate of fear within the LGBTQ+ community, stating, “The queer community in Uganda right now is not just afraid. We are grieving.” He added that many LGBTQ+ Ugandans are taking drastic measures to conceal their identities and relationships, fearing arrest, and persecution.
The arrests of Faith and Denise are occurring against a backdrop of increasing blackmail and extortion targeting LGBTQ+ individuals, according to activists. The pair remain in custody, and it is currently unclear when, or if, formal charges will be filed. Smug and other advocacy groups are closely monitoring the case, but the future of Faith and Denise remains uncertain.
