A new study reveals religious and faith-driven homophobic attitudes are depriving HIV-positive Ugandans of care, and impeding progress toward eradicating the epidemic.

LGBTQ+ people living with HIV in Uganda already face heightened risk due to limited inclusive services and government-sanctioned homophobia. The Anti-Homosexuality Act, or so-called “Kill the Gays” law, passed in 2023, prescribes long prison terms and even the death penalty in some circumstances for same-sex relations.

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Adding to those burdens are faith-based health services that are unwelcoming or turn away HIV-positive gay Ugandans, research shows.

The study, titled “The impact of faith and religion on HIV-related stigma, treatment adherence and service uptake among LGBTQI+ individuals in Uganda,” was published by the Universal Coalition of Affirming Africans Uganda and conducted in collaboration with the Friends of Canon Gideon Foundation with support from UNAIDS.

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While 70% of faith leaders interviewed stated that their faith-based facilities provide HIV support, only 30% offered HIV support services to LGBTQ+ individuals.

HIV stigma towards LGBTQ+ persons is common among all religions or faiths, the study finds, and those who do preach inclusivity risk excommunication and charges of “promoting homosexuality.” The providers who support LGBTQ+ individuals do so at their own risk.

LGBTQ+ individuals reported overwhelmingly that people of faith and religion perceive their sexual orientation as a curse or condemn it, and said religion and faith play a major role in forming negative public perceptions about them.

That keeps them from accessing care even when it’s available from healthcare providers that they perceive as faith and religion-based.

Only 5% of the respondents described a positive experience in religious settings where the clergy were aware of their sexual orientation.

Outside religious settings, “professional health workers who attempt to offer HIV services and care to LGBTQI+ persons have come under attack from clerics, colleagues, family members and communities that believe wrongly that being LGBTQI+ is unholy,” said Joto La Jiwe, a Ugandan correspondent for the African Human Rights Media Network.

“Consequently, these services are accessed through discreet frameworks that have also become less safe, thanks to AHA 2023,” he said, referring to the Anti-Homosexuality Act, passed two years ago with overwhelming support in parliament and signed into law by Uganda president Yoweri Museveni.

“I am a person of faith, and I know Allah granted unto us love and free will as the greatest gift to humanity,” said one HIV-positive respondent interviewed for the study.

“Unfortunately, some people have failed to acknowledge that love is gender free and that no one ought to control another’s choice or free will.”

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