A luxurious hotel in Munyonyo, well known for previously hosting international events, may have just made the news of the year in April: hosting a three-day gay event!
A gay writer from Kuchu Times (a very underground online LGBTQ publication) reported on this event in a May 5, 2025, article titled “A Movement That Refuses to Bow: Uganda’s SOGIE Movement Will Not Be Silenced,” without mentioning the venue, though our investigations zeroed in on the high-end lakeside facility.
Gay Event Held in Defiance of the Law
This “Roots Symposium” was held in secret, the host clearly putting more mind to money than morality. This exposed workers there, some of them young people, to the experiences of the wildest, traumatic and most horrifying erotic homosexual behaviour, in defiance of Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act, 2023, a legislation that upholds the pride of the nation that the resort ought to hold high.
Given the political and cultural sensitivity of such gatherings, especially under Uganda’s current legal framework, no mainstream outlet has reported on it.
After bagging millions of gay monies from this event, the resort continues to operate without public outcry. This article aims to expose what took place, not just to document the incident, but to highlight the extent to which such ideologies are quietly penetrating institutions, including schools, and the growing tolerance surrounding them in spaces once thought to be immune.
Roots Symposium: A Hidden Agenda!
So, what’s this “Roots Symposium”? This was a whooping-3-days gay event of more than a hundred people, activists, artists, TikTokers and community members from across Uganda, held under the guise of a cultural event. The online publication that covered the gay event described it as a space where participants shared stories and strategised on how to challenge Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act, framing the gathering as a “beacon of hope” for the LGBTQ+ movement. They held workshops on advocacy, art exhibitions showcasing their narratives, and discussions on legal resistance, all while celebrating their defiance with what the writer calls “unapologetic joy.”
This wasn’t a symposium about cultural roots; it was a calculated move to promote homosexuality, and its secretive nature shows how these groups are working to convince society, especially young people, to accept this vice.
Government and Opposition Involvement!
Opposition political organisations/parties in Uganda have long been known and labelled by the government to be secretly championing homosexuality through advocacy, civil society organisations, and human rights initiatives. But what about the fact that this event was held under the nose of the government? With the existence of laws such as the Public Order Management Act (POMA) of 2013, which requires organisers of public meetings or gatherings to notify police and obtain clearance, it is difficult to believe that such activities could take place without the knowledge, permission or involvement of state authorities.
Was this event cleared by the authorities? If not, why was it allowed to proceed? Does this not suggest that the government itself is compromised? Could corruption have played a role in permitting the event? These questions point to a potentially troubling reality: that both opposition and government actors may be involved in the very activities they publicly denounce, using moral posturing as a tool to score political points while operating behind the scenes in contradiction. This scenario, if true, tells a bigger story—one of political hypocrisy.
The Anti-Homosexuality Act, as we know it, was meant to be a shield against such immorality. It imposes life imprisonment for homosexual acts, the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality” involving minors or vulnerable people, and up to 20 years for promoting this vice. How could a government-inspected venue allow a three-day gay party without anyone noticing? The Kuchu Times writer even boasts about the event’s success, noting how it brought together young activists who felt “empowered” to continue their fight.
Homosexuality Recruitment in Schools in Uganda
Child recruitment into homosexuality is an increasing concern. In January 2023, Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, warned that schools had become recruitment grounds for homosexuality and that children were being targeted and lured. Back in 2016, the government of Uganda banned comprehensive sexuality education after discovering that foreign NGOs were using these programs to introduce homosexuality to young minds, especially in elite schools.
In boarding schools, especially single-sex ones, the tactic is sinister: older peers approach vulnerable ones, often 14 or 15 years old, targeting those who seem different, a boy who’s more effeminate or a more tomboyish girl, and convince them that these traits mean they’re actually sexually inversed: it’s psychological manipulation, preying on their innocence. The “Roots Symposium” mirrors this strategy, using workshops to “empower” young activists, planting seeds of acceptance in their minds. And all the way there is money oiling the whole process.
The Anti-Homosexuality Act promises life imprisonment for those who groom children into the vice, but the problem persists. The 2022 police crime report recorded 12,780 cases of child sexual abuse, with 653 involving children aged 0-8, and 83 classified as “unnatural offences.’’ Parents, you need to act—talk to your children, monitor their friendships, and demand that schools enforce strict moral standards.
Young Boy Bianca on TikTok (Online Influence)
Enter Pius. This is a child TikTok dancer, a minor, who acts and dresses like a girl and goes by the alias Bianca. The boy’s popularity on TikTok for his effeminate dance moves and cross-dressing has become a strong symbol of this vice among the youth. Last year, he was summoned by Balaam Barugahare, Uganda’s Minister for Youth, Children, and Culture, who publicly warned him against his conduct. Despite this warning, Pius continues her spree. The young boy’s defiance mocks the law and further risks recruiting impressionable youth into homosexual tendencies by normalising these displays on a platform they frequent. This kind of influence is exactly what the law aims to curb. The evidence of homosexual activities is all over: late-night TikTok live streams, etc. But does anyone really care?
Back in 2011, Sappho Islands, a gay club, operated openly in Kampala, before our very eyes. Fortunately, it was closed down. However, it had done the damage of recruiting young people into the vice. Have they ever been followed up and rehabilitated? Today, the problem is more discreet but no less dangerous, with high-profile hotels becoming safe havens. The “Roots Symposium” used art and storytelling to “shift narratives,” a clear attempt to normalise homosexuality in society. They showcased exhibitions that, according to the writer, “reclaimed our histories” and “celebrated queer love,” convincing attendees—many of whom were young and desperate for money and acceptance—that this lifestyle is acceptable. This isn’t just defiance; it’s a deliberate strategy to infiltrate cultural spaces and sway public opinion.
Homosexuals Exploiting Vulnerable Emotions
At the Roots Symposium, participants openly shared deeply personal stories about their journeys into homosexuality. Many of these accounts portrayed experiences of profound frustration, emotional turmoil, and repeated heartbreaks from heterosexual relationships, and this is exactly the vulnerability that was exploited to lure them into an alternative lifestyle.
These individuals spoke of feeling disillusioned by failed romances, betrayed by partners, or emotionally scarred by the challenges of maintaining straight relationships, which left them in a state of despair. It becomes evident that those who are heartbroken, emotionally wounded, and desperate for belonging are easy targets, as these events prey on their pain, offering a false sense of community and understanding to pull them. This is a very important issue for parents: advise your children to refrain from relationships of any nature till they are at least 16, because even heterosexual relationships have their challenges and emotional implications, which preteens might not be ready to face. When they are going through such challenges, gay agents planted in schools always come in to pamper such heartbreaks, and before you know it, your child is at the epicentre of homosexuality.
The Church on Homosexuality in Uganda
Furthermore, the vice slinks into our churches, the supposed last line of defence, yet even there it’s faltering. Religious leaders like Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba have stood firm—in 2023, he supported the Anti-Homosexuality Act, calling it a necessary measure. Some churches in Uganda, however, have betrayed their congregations on this matter. Those who have fought against this vice, like Pastor Martin Ssempa, have faced heavy resistance from fellow clergymen. The Kuchu Times (sodomy site) writer mentions that their symposium included discussions on engaging religious leaders, a clear attempt to infiltrate churches and sway them toward acceptance. Choose your place of worship wisely—support leaders who uphold our values, and walk away from any congregation that tolerates or is indifferent to this vice.
Gay Clubs, NGOs and Recruitment Hubs
Social clubs and NPOs are another hidden danger, operating in the shadows to spread homosexuality. These groups pose as innocent rights gatherings but are recruitment hubs. In 2012, the government of Uganda banned 38 NPOs for promoting homosexuality and recruiting children.
In 2022, Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG), a group that openly advocated for homosexuality, was suspended, a good move. But underground networks persist, using private gatherings at hidden hotels and schools (in school clubs) to lure vulnerable youth. “Roots Symposium” itself was a social club in disguise, bringing together people to “build community,” convincing them to embrace this lifestyle.
Even spaces meant for health and camaraderie, like sports, clinics and saunas, are being tainted. In 2010, Pastor Martin Ssempa warned that this vice had infiltrated such communal spaces.
Social Media – The Digital Gateway to Gay Recruitment
Social media is making this battle harder—it’s a digital gateway to evil. Platforms like TikTok are used to organise secret gatherings, while X, with all its line of advocates, spreads propaganda that normalises this vice. The 2023 Anti-Homosexuality law bans the promotion of homosexuality, with up to 20 years in prison for those who publish pro-gay content online. Yet, the Kuchu Times article itself is a prime example of this propaganda, using emotive language to glorify and inspire others to join the movement. This kind of online influence and the X advocacy targets young people, convincing them that homosexuality is a noble cause.
All of this brings us back to the question: How effective is the anti-homosexuality act in Uganda? Has the government failed to fully enforce the law? A government-leaning hotel hosting such an event under a guise shows a lack of commitment to the moral fight. The President of Uganda, Museveni Y. Kaguta, has always boasted that Uganda’s economy grew by 6% despite the West halting World Bank loans over the anti-homosexuality law, proving we don’t need their money to uphold our values.
For God and my country.
Compiled by Mwesigwa Joshua
