Ugandan police have arrested two women in Arua District, accusing them of engaging in same-sex conduct in violation of the country’s strict Anti-Homosexuality Act of 2023.

According to a report by The Guardian, the two women, aged 22 and 21, were detained on 18 February 2026 after neighbours allegedly reported them to authorities for publicly kissing and hosting gatherings at their rented room. Police confirmed the arrest and said investigations were ongoing, with the file expected to be forwarded to prosecutors for guidance.

Under the Anti-Homosexuality Act, consensual same-sex relations are punishable by life imprisonment, while what the law defines as “aggravated homosexuality” carries harsher penalties. The legislation also criminalises the “promotion” of homosexuality.

Human rights defenders have condemned the arrest, saying it reflects a wider pattern of intimidation. Ugandan activist Hans Senfuma said the arrest was not an isolated incident but part of what he described as increased surveillance and fear within the LGBTQ community, as reported by The Guardian.

In its May 2025 report titled Uganda: Anti-LGBT Law Unleashed Abuse, Human Rights Watch stated that authorities had overseen widespread discrimination and violence against LGBTQ individuals since the law was enacted in May 2023. The organisation documented numerous cases of arrests, evictions, physical assaults and loss of employment linked to the legislation.

The law was signed by President Yoweri Museveni in May 2023 despite international condemnation. In April 2024, Uganda’s Constitutional Court upheld most of the Act’s key provisions after petitions sought to overturn it, according to reporting by Reuters.

Rights groups say the continued enforcement of the law has deepened fear among sexual minorities in Uganda. They have called on authorities to halt arrests and protect the rights and safety of all citizens, regardless of sexual orientation.

The two women remain in custody as investigations continue.