Launching our Ugandan LGBTQ+ podcast series in London
On April 3, 2024, Uganda’s Constitutional Court upheld the provisions of its sweeping Anti-Homosexuality Act of 2023. This ruling further entrenched discrimination against LGBTQ+ people, subjecting them to increased violence and the possibility of serving life in prison and the death penalty.
Our latest LGBTQ+ podcast episodes Not Enough Sun and A Mother’s Letter form part of a series exploring how LGBTQ+ Ugandans responded in the days, weeks, and months following the bill’s passage in 2023.
“These episodes bring us closer to the LGBTQ+ community in Uganda in a way that helps us understand what they’re experiencing. They allow us to relate intimately to their stories because what’s happening in Uganda concerns all of us.” - Lesedi Mogoatlhe, Editorial Director
Last month, we hosted a podcast launch at the Frontline Club in London, where Editorial Director Lesedi Mogoatlhe and Senior Producer Dhashen Moodley charted out the process of creating these episodes. They were joined by Ruth Muganzi, a reporter from Uganda who co-produced A Mother’s Letter.
"Working on A Mother’s Letter has been an enriching experience. While it was difficult to listen to Rihanna's pain through her arrest and imprisonment, it was equally moving to witness her mother's efforts to overcome her own beliefs and come to a much bigger love for her daughter. We are so grateful that the Radio Workshop platform has helped these stories reach an audience far beyond Uganda." - Ruth Muganzi, Reporter
In the first episode of the series, Not Enough Sun, we’re introduced to Musana. Musana was on holiday with her girlfriend in Kenya when news of the law spread like wildfire. She was suddenly faced with the reality that staying in Kenya would be safer than returning home to Uganda.
In A Mother’s Letter, we meet Rihanna, a trans woman who was arrested for being trans in 2014. Despite her arrest and how it shaped the past 10 years of her life, she chose to stay in Uganda, with her mom by her side as an unlikely ally.
As the world marks Pride Month, these stories are reminders that threats to LGBTQ+ rights are increasing across the continent. Just recently, Ghana’s parliament passed new legislation to severely restrict LGBTQ+ rights.
The launch provided an opportunity for people to find out about our work and learn how our podcasts’ are produced. We look forward to more opportunities like this to raise awareness about LGBTQ+ issues and to connect with other allies and supporters.
Your donations ensure that these stories gain traction and help to advance LGBTQ+ rights across the globe.
With sincere gratitude for your support,
Yumna Martin, Board Chairperson
Linda Barnett, Radio Workshop US
Emmanuelle Parr, Radio Workshop UK