Support Victor Mukasa's Health and Family

Victor Mukasa, one of the founders of the LGBTQI+ movement in Uganda and the trans rights movement across Africa, has given so much to many people but now needs your help.

After years of leadership in the human rights movement, Victor was forced to relocate to the U.S. where he received asylum. Restarting in a new country is hard, but Victor persevered and rebuilt his life bit by bit like so many immigrants. Victor found joy as a home health aid, taking care of the sick and elderly. Caring for those most vulnerable came naturally to him. However, lifting people out of wheelchairs and beds is hard, and Victor's back eventually gave out. He supplemented his income by cleaning homes and construction sites. Unfortunately, working in dirty buildings with strong chemical cleaning supplies took a toll. Victor was diagnosed with lead poisoning. The doctors think chemicals leached into his body. The consequence is that Victor lives with chronic pain, ongoing medical expenses, and serious healthcare needs. He still identifies as an activist and works when he can, but full-time work is not currently an option. As the father of two beautiful girls, he has to find a way to make ends meet for himself and his daughters.

Please help Victor and his family with their living expenses (rent, utilities, internet, gas, and school start up funds) during this difficult moment.

BACKGROUND ABOUT VICTOR MUKASA

Intent on the pursuit of justice, Victor became active in the LGBT movement in Uganda early. He eventually co-founded Sexual Minorities of Uganda (SMUG), helped launch organizations like Freedom and Roam Uganda (FARUG) and the East Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project, and staffed the Africa Program of Outright International (formerly IGLHRC). When Ugandan police raided his home in 2005 and confiscated LGBT-related documents, Victor and a fellow activist were arrested and detained by police. Victor sued the government and won a precedent-setting judgement (Mukasa and Oyo v. Attorney General, High Court of Uganda, 2008). The court found that government officials “clearly amounted to a breach of [the plaintiffs’] constitutional guarantees… and a violation of International Human Rights Instruments to which Uganda is a party.”