A Face of a Queer Ugandan dealing with unending cases of gender-based violence on the inside is on display in Kampala, Nsambya Estate Road Opposite the National Medical Store, a Kampala Suburb.
The image is a symbolic mural recently unveiled by the East African Visual Artists (EAVA Artists) on the 2021 International Human Rights Day marking the end of the 16 days of Activism. It symbolizes the ever ongoing GBV against vulnerable minorities such as LGBTIQ+ persons.
In many conservative communities across the world (and in Uganda), women and girls find it difficult to talk about Gender-Based Violence (GBV) openly and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. However, art can empower young women and girls to express themselves without fear of being judged.
GBV is common in Uganda. Interestingly, the national statistics depict GBV cases against girls and women, only leaving out Lesbian, Transgender, Queer women, and men.
According to the Uganda Police Force’s Annual Crime Report, gender-based violence cases reported and investigated increased by 4% (from 38,651 to 40,258 cases) between 2019 and 2020.
“Having this mural on the street is one way of expressing the struggles we go through every day. It is not an everyday thing that we share our pain with society. Still, we believe that people will understand our struggle and our challenges with this mural,” Vincent Kyabayinze, the EAVA Artists Director, said.
The mural will be here for six months at the place. According to EAVA Artists, it will be enough for leaders and public members to have an honest conversation on the acceptance and inclusivity of LGBTQI+ persons in Uganda.
Ruth Muganzi, the EAVA Artists Board Chairperson, said the mural displayed innovation, freedom of expression and activism.
There are four faces in the mural, presumably of LGBTQI+ persons struggling and unhappy apart from one forcing a smile but visibly in pain.
“I am proud of the team at EAVA Artists for thinking innovatively and deciding that art can speak to us and communicate emotions like we are seeing in the mural,” she said.
One of the young Queer women who attended the unveiling said she lost a close friend to GBV.
“That is when this became very loud to me, and my life has never been the same. It has been five months, two weeks and three days, and the word normal had never irritated me more because when I finally became aware of my grief and set out to find help, I was promised that my life would go back to normal” she wrote in a poem dedicated to her deceased friend.
Cleo Kambugu, a renowned Ugandan transgender woman and rights activist, condemned all forms of violence against LGBTQI+ persons and made a passionate appeal for an end to policing people’s bodies.
“For me, this is a clear depiction of what the damage violence does. It is about people taking away the ownership of something that should have been yours,” Cleo said as she mentioned how the mural speaks to who she is, she urged everyone to take a picture of the mural or a selfie-and spread it widely.
“Let it be known that this happened here today and let this change us forever. I hope to bring my mother here one day and take pictures”.
Before the mural launch, EAVA Artists engaged various stakeholders in a dialogue on inclusivity and mutual respect to mark the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence.
