Sexual Minorities Uganda-SMUG on the 23rd August 2019 had an advocacy strategy meeting for the SMUG Vs URSB Civil Appeal Case. This after Honorable Justice Patricia Basaza Wasswa on 14th June 2018 upheld Uganda Registration Services Bureau-URSB refusal to reserve and register Sexual Minorities Uganda saying the name is undesirable. In her ruling Justice Basaza said although fundamental rights and freedoms of people are inherent and not granted by the state it is also trite that not all fundamentals and other human rights and freedoms cannot just be granted without restriction or limitations. She added that a distinction must be drawn between non-derogable and derogable fundamental rights and freedoms as per article 44 of the constitution.
While speaking at the meeting our Executive Director Dr Frank Mugisha said, “This case is important for us and the community. We decided to register the organization but this wasn’t successful. We were advised to change our name and objectives but we refused because these are part of our advocacy work.” He added; “As we go for group work think of the entire advocacy strategies that you’ve learned and them to come up with proper strategies for this Appeal. All the judgments have been given have been extremely conservative, let us change that narrative now.”
Members of the LGBTIQ community who attended the meeting under the guidance of Human Rights Awareness and Promotion Forum-HRAPF came up with different advocacy strategies we could apply to support the SMUG Vs URSB Appeal Case. These included Key advocacy messages, focus audiences and advocacy platforms among others.
Coat of arms of Uganda.
SMUG Vs URSB Timeline:
On 1st June 2016 Sexual Minorities Uganda filed a case against Uganda Registration Services Bureau-URSB refusal to reserve and register Sexual Minorities Uganda saying the name is undesirable.
On 14th June 2019 Honorable Justice Patricia Basaza Wasswa upheld Uganda Registration Services Bureau-URSB refusal to reserve and register Sexual Minorities Uganda saying the name is undesirable.
On 7th September 2018 Sexual Minorities Uganda-SMUG filed a Memorandum of Appeal against the decision of Justice Patricia Basaza Wasswa where Uganda Registration Services Bureau-URSB refused to reserve and register SMUG saying the name is undesirable.
On 23rd August 2019 Sexual Minorities Uganda had an advocacy strategy meeting for the SMUG Vs URSB Civil Appeal Case.
