The Staggers

The New Statesman’s rolling politics blog

Tell Theresa May: Brenda Namigadde must stay

The Ugandan lesbian faces imprisonment and even death if repatriated today. Sign the petition urgent

By Tom Calvocoressi Published 28 January 2011 15:23

There are only twelve hours left. Following the tragic murder this week of the Ugandan openly gay activist, David Kato, who had fought long and hard for gay rights in Uganda for over a decade -- and had just won a court victory against Rolling Stone, the Ugandan newspaper that had called for him to be hanged -- the world's attention is now turned urgently to Brenda Namigadde, the Ugandan lesbian whose future hangs agonisingly in the balance.

Brenda is currently interned in the Yarl's Wood detention centre in the UK, having fled to Britain in 2003, but faces deportation back to Uganda in the next 12 hours, despite this new government's promise to put an end to the repatriation of homosexuals if their lives would be endangered following a court ruling last July. At the time, Theresa May, the Home Secretary, said:

I welcome the ruling of the Supreme Court, which vindicates the position of the coalition Government. We have already promised to stop the removal of asylum-seekers who have had to leave particular countries because their sexual orientation or gender identification puts them at proven risk of imprisonment, torture or execution. I do not believe it is acceptable to send people home and expect them to hide their sexuality to avoid persecution.

If Brenda is repatriated there, she will be arrested as soon as her plane touches down, and there is every likelihood she will be tortured and murdered. The reason for her deportation? Apparently, despite her relationship with a woman -- the Canadian Janet Hoffman with whom she lived in Uganda but has not seen since they both fled in 2003 following persecution -- a judge has deemed her not to be gay. "She has been found not to have a right to remain here," Matthew Coats, head of immigration at the UK Border Agency said. "An immigration judge found on the evidence before him that Ms Namigadde was not homosexual."

Although Brenda doubtless is gay -- and the fact she has to prove this seems horribly offensive in itself -- at this critical stage the ins and out, ifs and maybes of her sexuality are largely irrelevant, and the baying, homophobic mob in Uganda are hardly ones for nuance. The facts remain: if Brenda Namigadde is sent back to Uganda, a country with one of the most hostile and punishing climates on earth for LGBT people, her life will be in danger. The New Statesman urges you to sign the petition now to prevent this.

More from Tom Calvocoressi

View the discussion thread.

21 comments

Mon, 2011-02-28 01:00 — Kaninenz (not verified)

To Fed Up,

How do you know she's not a Lesbian? Not that it matters now. If she is sent back she will be killed as one.

I think your word for today is conviction.

Fri, 2011-01-28 23:54 — child support worker (not verified)

It is obviously barbaric to execute an individual for exercising a sexual preference. However, I have to question if the UK has the resources to absorb refuges to the value of 2-4% of the population of Africa?

Sat, 2011-01-29 00:26 — Ditchdog (not verified)

I personally love public perverts.

Sat, 2011-01-29 02:02 — Fed up (not verified)

Lesbian? Lesbian my arse!! She's not gay - she is insulting the memory of David Kato by riding in on the back of his fresh corpse in order to stay in the UK!! Utterly disgusting and despicable human being!

Sat, 2011-01-29 02:11 — greenwitch (not verified)

The case must not be decided based on fear of a flood of LGBTI asylum seekers. We need to do what we can, where we are. Save this person. And the next. Until the PTB realise that they have to exert political pressure on the nations that are persecuting their own people. Those of us living in developed nations with functional representative democracy have to use it to help others. No person, anywhere in the world, is less deserving of help than any other.

Sun, 2011-02-13 22:08 — winfred nantume (not verified)

in deed racists should just shut up and go to hell becouse we can not deal with such people who are heartless.Any way can they let me know how gay or lesbians look like? IF the Ugandan Mp says she will face 14yrs in prison,and u do not belive then what else do u what? Sleep with her and thats when you will get to your senceses and know she is? then please better shut up if you have nothing to say. thanks

Sat, 2011-01-29 13:10 — Lou (not verified)

Brenda was on the flight ready to depart when notice of a temporary reprieve came through.

Fri, 2011-01-28 15:46 — Lou (not verified)

Have done and you can also get involved via facebook and twitter. There's less than twelve hours so get tweeting and signing.

We must prevent this deportation and if we don't, then we must hold Theresa May to account for any ill that may befall this lady after deportation.

Sat, 2011-01-29 16:16 — Wodin (not verified)

She has no legal right to be here,

bye bye!

Fri, 2011-01-28 16:11 — paul canning (not verified)

Thanks for this Tom but - correction:

She did not flee to Canada, she came here. Her then partner returned to Canada.

Thanks for promoting petition. I am updating news here http://madikazemi.blogspot.com/2011/01/uk-preparing-to-put-asylum-seekin...

Fri, 2011-01-28 16:28 — zsremrxc

I do not believe it is acceptable to send people home and expect them to hide their sexuality to avoid persecution.

As it happens I do,whats wrong with keeping yourself to yourself amd your own kind,in my book its just good
manners.

I personally cant stand public perverts.

Fri, 2011-01-28 16:35 — Marcy

Thanks Paul - written in haste so will amend.

"Moronamid" - well your name says it all.

Fri, 2011-01-28 17:10 — Pauline Vernon (not verified)

I hope I am not too late and have spread the word on Facebook. The news about David Kato's murder was buried on page 41 of The Times today, so I have only just seen this. Truly appalling violation of human rights that must be stopped. Good luck with the campaign.

Sat, 2011-01-29 18:29 — Won't get fooled again

Obviously it's uncivilised to persecute someone because of the way they feel. I just don't believe this woman is gay, she's just found a loophole to try and stay here!

Fri, 2011-01-28 18:08 — Lou (not verified)

There's a conflict here between Theresa May being Home Secretary and ultimately responsible for the deportation (or not) of Brenda Namigadde and May's position as Minister for Women & Equalities where she ought to be on the side of Brenda Namigadde and urging the Home Office not to deport her.

Brenda should not be deported if Theresa May meant what she said in July last year, her statement was an unequivocal statement on exactly this sort of case. If she is deported then May's word as Home Office Minister on this matter means nothing and she evidently is not fit for her role as Minister for Women and Equalities either.

Fri, 2011-01-28 18:32 — Paul Compton (not verified)

I've been running a petition around my local school and area.

Theresa May must stop this.

Fri, 2011-01-28 18:37 — Rev. Dr. John Hunt (not verified)

Whatever is Theresa May waiting for? If she has any doubt as Home Secretary, surely her role as Minister for Women and Equalities should make her duty crystal clear? Brenda MUST be allowed to stay.

Mon, 2011-01-31 14:12 — YORKY (not verified)

What sort of soft touch are we? why do we feel the need to take the mass exodus from other nations its time we said no and looked after our own
Deport her i say and sooner the better

Mon, 2011-01-31 14:28 — Lou (not verified)

Brenda's case is being reheard this wednesday so it is imperative to keep up the pressure on the relevant bodies.

As for the vitriolic, racist, hate filled comments on here, when you are at risk of imminent death then you can argue that your rights in this free democratic country really are eroded but until then, if you have nothing nice or constructive to say - do shut up.

Mon, 2011-01-31 17:37 — Marcy

Thanks, Lou - have removed some of the worst comments.

Latest story seems to suggest the judge ruled Brenda wasn't a lesbian because she didn't read LGBT magazines such as Diva. Hmm, perhaps not a priority for an asylum seeker living off a £30 a week pre-paid card and in fear of persecution and imminent deportation.

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2011/01/30/ugandan-lesbians-asylum-appeal-reje...

As other people have commented, Brenda is considered to be gay in Uganda, and had previously fled the country after being hounded for living with a woman, so her life would be in danger even if it was now proved she was "straight".

That is what asylum means - a safe place of refuge for those who risk persecution in their own country. The lack of empathy from right-wing bigots is sometimes mind-boggling! One can only hope they never find themselves in such a predicament.

Sat, 2011-01-29 22:03 — One of the forgotten (not verified)

Why do we in this little country of ours have to take in everyone who does not fit in anywhere else,why because we are a soft touch.I am tired of fighting for everyone else's rights when my own are being ignored and eroded.Stick that in your smug self-righteous middle class pipe and smoke it.