I am Abdullah, 22 years old, male, and born in 2001.
I started getting interested in fellow genders in my former high school.
According to my details of life, it’s kinda wide, but I will make it short. I am Ugandan by nationality and a gay top. Back in my former high school, I started getting interested in fellow genders. I noticed it when I started feeling close to my straight friend. When I approached him, he could have taken it as a compliment. He didn’t. It annoyed him and reported me to the school administration.
The school expelled me, my parents abandoned me.
The school authorities expelled me. My parents didn’t believe who I was, and they abandoned me. I decided to look for my way out and fled to Kenya. On reaching Kakuma Refugee Camp, I met others from Uganda in Kakuma reception and we were all allocated to Kakuma 2, Block 12.
I arrived here at Kakuma Refugee Camp on 10th June 2020. I have been here now for three years. For LGBTQ+ people, this is a horrible place to be in. Straight refugees and camp support workers discriminate against us and our freedom to move about. They display frequent homophobic behaviour and threaten or attack us at the water points and when collecting rations. Straights along the roadside physically attack us. Verbal assaults are common, and most times we have to be indoors for our safety.
Not having enough to eat is a big problem. Reaching out to medical services often meets resistance. We feel there is no protection or genuine care for our health. Our chance of resettlement in a safe country is no further advanced than the day we each got here. Toilets and sanitary arrangements are also degrading and unhygienic.
I’m glad you have read my story. I hope you can help us in whatever way you can. Thank you.
Please read about the realities we face in camp. Existing in Kakuma
