This year’s UK Black Pride was a vibrant gathering of community, culture, and activism. And Ugandans joined whose country has the harshest anti homosexuality law attended to celebrate with others.

Black Pride began as a modest group that traveled by bus to Southend-on-Sea had blossomed into a global event, drawing over 25,000 attendees to the previous year’s celebration. UK Black Pride had found a new home in Newham, occupying the largest space the organization had ever used.

This year’s event brought together thousands of attendees for a powerful combination of party and celebrations, featuring an exciting lineup of performances, engaging talks, community stalls, and interactive workshops. The growth of UK Black Pride reflected the enduring need for safe spaces where LGBTQI+ people of African, Asian, Caribbean, Latin American, and Middle Eastern backgrounds could celebrate their identities and advocate for their rights.

Newham Council had been proud to host this globally significant event once again and had reaffirmed its commitment to fostering an inclusive and diverse community. They had been dedicated to challenging discrimination and promoting respect for all, regardless of ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender expression.

Mayor of Newham, Rokhsana Fiaz OBE had said, “Newham is a beacon of diversity and inclusion, and we are immensely proud to have hosted UK Black Pride for the third consecutive year. This global celebration has been a testament to our borough’s unwavering commitment to equality and a society where everyone feels safe, valued, and empowered to be their authentic selves.”

UK Black Pride CEO, Phyll Opoku-Gyimah had expressed joy at announcing the return to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park for the third year running. It had slowly become a great home for the event as it grew bigger and bigger. Reflecting on previous years, the organizers had planned to make this the biggest and boldest UK Black Pride yet, working on a powerful theme for the year.

Attendees had been invited to join on 11 August 2024, at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, for a celebration that promised to be both historic and transformative.

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Chris Baryomunsi, the minister for ICT, said Nobody should be threatened by these actions of the international actors.

“If they cherish homosexuality, let them cherish it. As Ugandans, we don’t,” he said.

“As a government and Ugandans, we must remain firm. We may be poor but not desperate that we will dangle our resources and lose our values,” Baryomunsi added.

“We know the Speaker was the first victim of visa restrictions. Personally, if you denied me passage to America I don’t think I would die.”

David Bahati, the state minister for trade, said: “We should remain firm in the law we passed against homosexuality. We believe that several black males are being traded around.”

The minister added, “On top of the numerous restrictions the threats have continued the house should remain united.”

The two ministers’ comments come a day after the US announced more travel restrictions for “current or former Ugandan officials or others who are believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic process in Uganda or for policies or actions aimed at repressing members of marginalized or vulnerable populations.”

The restrictions also come in the wake of Uganda passing a strong anti-homosexuality law which prescribes life imprisonment for those implicated in gross anti-homosexual activities.

Below is full statement of ANTONY J. BLINKEN, SECRETARY OF STATE

After Uganda’s flawed 2021 presidential elections, I announced a visa restriction policy targeting those believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic process in Uganda. At that time, I implored the Government of Uganda to significantly improve its record and hold accountable those responsible for flawed electoral processes, violence, and intimidation.

Today, I am announcing the expansion of the visa restriction policy to include current or former Ugandan officials or others who are believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic process in Uganda or for policies or actions aimed at repressing members of marginalized or vulnerable populations. These groups include, but are not limited to, environmental activists, human rights defenders, journalists, LGBTQI+ persons, and civil society organizers. The immediate family members of such persons may also be subject to these restrictions.

The United States stands by the Ugandan people and remains committed to working together to advance democracy, human rights, public health, and mutual prosperity. I once again strongly encourage the Government of Uganda to make concerted efforts to uphold democracy and to respect and protect human rights so that we may sustain the decades-long partnership between our countries that has benefited Americans and Ugandans alike.

This visa restriction policy is pursuant to Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act and expands upon the policy Secretary Blinken approved in 2021.

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