Uganda has just enacted one of the world’s harshest anti-gay laws. With some sectors of tourism calling for a travel boycott, Amy Fallon asks: In a country where tourism accounts for eight percent of GDP, does shunning it entirely do more harm than good?
After a brutal COVID-19 lockdown and an Ebola outbreak kept tourists away from the endangered mountain gorillas and the tree-climbing lions, many Ugandans hoped for brighter days for the country’s tourism industry. The sector contributes nearly eight percent to the East African nation’s GDP, with 1.5 million visitors to Uganda every year, according to the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA).
But with the recent announcement of one of the world’s harshest anti-gay laws for the country, some are warning of a “death knell for Ugandan tourism”. The country’s Anti-Homosexuality Act, signed by its President Yoweri Museveni in May 2023, prescribes the death penalty or life imprisonment for specific same-sex acts. It includes up to two decades’ jail for “recruitment, promotion and funding” of same-sex acts and a 14-year prison sentence for “attempted aggravated homosexuality,” defined as acts against a child, against someone who contracts a serious illness as a result of the offence, or involves a person with a disability, among other things. “We are trying to survive,” Diana Nakiwala, a Ugandan lesbian, told me. “The community in Uganda is currently grappling with a range of emotions and concerns.”
Amos Wekesa, CEO and founder of Great Lake Safaris and Uganda Lodges, has a new cottage opening in a chimp enclave in Budongo in the country’s northwest region later this year. He says the law’s impact will be “far-reaching”.
“We were just starting to see an uplift in visitor numbers and a chance for a fully booked high season in our lodges but now it is very uncertain,” says Wekesa. “We on the ground in Uganda are extremely worried about the impacts of this new law on tourism to the country.”
Post-pandemic, with more bucket list options back on the horizon, some travelers may now be debating the ethics of whether they could—or should—visit a country where there’s an extreme anti-gay crackdown. Many may have been here before. A similar law passed in 2014 in Uganda, one of 68 countries around the globe that criminalize same-sex relations, led to aid cuts, and impacted tourism and investment. Back then, some attempts by the country’s tourism figures to justify the law raised eyebrows, with one spokesperson from the Association of Uganda Tour Operators insisting, “No one is actually being killed”.
This time around, the Uganda Tourism Board appears less defensive. But its head of public relations, Gessa Simplicious, says, “We hope the recently amended law does not impact tourists from coming to Uganda. Uganda continues to welcome all travelers to the country from around the world.” He added that tourism to Uganda ensured the conservation and survival of many wild species and stunning places.
Some critics of travel boycotts claim that there are double standards when it comes to some travel advisories, with some ignoring abuses in the West.
Some say there’s no sign of the Anti-Homosexuality Act having a direct impact on tourism—yet. “Numbers are still on track with our predictions and we have not had any cancellations,” says Walter Wandera, who runs motorbike taxi tours of Kampala and safaris around Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania. Wandera stresses that tourism is “more important than ever now” for Uganda. “It’s a major source of income for Uganda and it provides jobs for many people,” he says. “If tourists stop visiting Uganda, it can lead to a negative impact on the economy and the people who rely on it.”
But some outlets in their travel coverage have highlighted the anti-gay measures. eTurboNews, the global traveling industry news site, has scrapped promotional content and advertising, said publisher Juergen Steinmetz. He said that it was the first time that eTN had refused to continue advertising arrangements with Uganda over this issue, adding that the outlet had spoken out on gay rights in Brunei and other countries.
It’s the second time eTN has taken a stand on LGBTQ+ rights in Uganda. In 2014, they were successful in getting a response from UTB after they told the board they were withholding coverage and support. “Seychelles changed legislation based on our suggestions,” adds Steinmetz.
However, he said that while travel boycotts get attention, they need to be thought through so as not to hurt SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) more than necessary. eTN has also held LGBTQ+ discussions with Barbados, Jamaica, and Saudi Arabia, and represented the global media in the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Task Force against child sexual exploitation for almost a decade, says Steinmetz, stressing that their advocacy wasn’t limited to gay rights.
Uganda’s LGBTQ+ community is divided on travel boycotts. Steven Kabuye, an activist and a gay man who is co-director of NGO, Coloured Voice Uganda, favors them even though it means Uganda’s economy will “end up in shambles, more than it is even today.” “In a country where its own citizens can’t live freely just because they think it’s okay to be LGBTQIA, I don’t encourage people to visit,” says Kabuye.
On June 13, the US updated its travel advice for Uganda in light of the new law. It said that it “raises the risk that LGBTQI+ persons, and those perceived to be LGBTQI+, could be prosecuted and subjected to life imprisonment or death based on provisions in the law.” They may face mandatory reporting to police if they are suspected of or intending to commit acts, and could also be subject to “harassment or attacks by vigilantes.” Supporters of gay people could also be prosecuted and imprisoned, the US said.
Some critics of travel boycotts claim that there are double standards when it comes to some travel advisories, with some ignoring abuses in the West. In May, two human rights groups—Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and Equality Florida—issued their first-ever advisory, for Florida, after the state’s most anti-LGBTQ+ legislative session in history. “Already, multiple major conferences have announced they are no longer utilizing Florida spaces due to the policies being adopted and that damage will only grow,” says press secretary of Equality Florida, Brandon Wolf. “It is our hope that whether folk remain, leave or stay away, they use this moment to engage deeply on the frontline in the fight for freedom.”
International LGBTQ+ Travel Association (International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association) don’t support boycotts “as they only serve to further isolate LGBTQ+ locals,” says president and CEO John Tanzella. “If you choose to visit challenging destinations, you can be strategic with your travel dollars by supporting tourism businesses that give back to the queer community and are speaking out against discrimination,” he says.
“Ultimately, the decision to visit Uganda or any other country is a personal one that depends on your comfort level, priorities, and commitment to supporting human rights and equality,” says Nakiwala. “If you are concerned about the situation for LGBTQ+ individuals, you might consider supporting advocacy organizations or engaging in activities that promote equality and inclusivity.”
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Amy Fallon is an Australian freelance journalist based in the UK with a special interest in social justice, human rights and international development. She has worked for many outlets including Fodor’s, the Guardian, and Sydney Morning Herald, and reported from around the world including Africa, Asia and Canada.
