On 14 February 2012, the State Minister of Ethics and Integrity interrupted and ordered the closure of a human rights workshop in Entebbe.The Minister also reportedly ordered the arrest of FARUG Executive Director, Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera.

The workshop, on leadership skills, was organised by Freedom and Roam Uganda (FARUG). FARUG is a human rights organisation which fights discrimination against lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people. Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera is a prominent LGBTI rights defender and won the 2011 Martin Ennals Award.

On the morning of 14 February 2012, a government official claiming to belong to the President’s Office walked into the conference room where the FARUG workshop was taking place, in a hotel in Entebbe. He was subsequently requested by Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera to leave the room as he had not been invited to the workshop.

The official reportedly asked her to follow him and led her to a room where the State Minister of Ethics and Integrity, Hon. Simon Lukodo, was waiting accompanied by policemen. The Minister questioned FARUG Executive Director about the workshop, then asked her to accompany him to the conference room so that he could observe. Once in the room, he addressed the participants directly and announced that the workshop was illegal and unethical. He then ordered its closure and told participants to go home. He also inspected the training materials which were being used as part of the workshop.

Following the organisers' objections, the Minister reportedly ordered the arrest of Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera. It is reported that she managed to leave the hotel while the other participants checked out and left. The hotel manager is reported to have been threatened to force him to hand over Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera, and police proceeded to search the hotel in an attempt to find her. The Minister also reportedly stated that Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera should leave the country.

Front Line Defenders views the closure of the workshop organised by FARUG as a blatant violation of the right of human rights defenders to carry out their peaceful activities, and as an attempt to intimidate them. The closure of the workshop comes just eight days after the “Anti- Homosexuality” Bill was re-tabled in parliament.

See Front Line Defenders urgent appeal dated 8 February 2012 http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/17325