Thank you for reaching out and for your willingness to help make the situation in Kenya and South Sudan more visible to the world. The reality for LGBTQ+ refugees in East Africa is one of constant fear, violence, and survival against all odds. Many of us fled persecution in our home countries, only to find ourselves trapped in refugee camps where the danger continues.
I come from Uganda, where being LGBTQ+ is not only criminalized but also met with extreme hostility. Like many others, I had to flee to Kenya’s Kakuma Refugee Camp, believing I would find safety there. Instead, we faced violent attacks from fellow refugees and locals who saw us as outsiders, threats, or simply as people unworthy of dignity. Queer refugees in Kakuma have been assaulted, raped, and even burned alive in targeted attacks, yet authorities rarely intervene to protect us. Reporting these crimes often leads to further retaliation instead of justice.
Hoping for a better situation, I relocated to Gorom Refugee Camp in South Sudan, only to find more suffering. The South Sudanese government is openly hostile to LGBTQ+ people, and those of us living in the camp are under constant surveillance. Armed groups and even camp authorities harass us. We live in fear of being identified, arrested, or killed. Our community is silenced at gunpoint.
The daily struggles here are unbearable. There is not enough food, clean water, or medical care. LGBTQ+ refugees are often denied aid and services, leaving us sick, malnourished, and untreated for even basic illnesses. Housing is inadequate, and many of us sleep in makeshift shelters that offer no protection from the elements or attacks. Lesbians face the threat of corrective rape, while trans individuals endure brutal assaults for simply existing. Mental health support is nonexistent, and many in our community have taken their own lives out of hopelessness.
One of the hardest realities is that our dreams of resettlement have been shattered. Many of us believed that the U.S. and other Western nations would provide a path to safety, but restrictive immigration policies, including those under Trump’s administration, have left us stuck in dangerous limbo. The hope of escaping persecution now feels like a distant dream.
Despite these challenges, we refuse to be erased. We need global solidarity. Sharing our stories, advocating for policy changes, and supporting our survival through crowdfunding are some of the few ways the world can help. If publishing an article can amplify our voices, I am willing to contribute. However, anonymity is crucial for our safety, as South Sudanese authorities track and target LGBTQ+ activists.
Thank you again for your support. Let me know how best we can collaborate to bring these untold stories to light.
Endover to donate to our fundraising page below 👇🏽
https://gofund.me/c8bbbb9e
