GLAAD

This evening, Ugandan police raided a Uganda Pride event being held at a club called “Venom” in the city of Kampala.

Among those arrested are Dr. Frank Mugisha and Pepe Julian Onziema, leaders of Sexual Minorities Uganda. Police had initially blocked access to the club, preventing others from leaving — at this moment it is unclear whether they have or if people are still being held inside.

Mugisha and Onziema have posted to social media, notifiying the global community of the raid and arrest. 

I am arrested by Ugandan police

— Dr. Frank Mugisha (@frankmugisha) August 4, 2016

Arrested

— TheNilote (@Opimva) August 4, 2016

“People are not criminals for who they are or who they love. All people, no matter where they are in the world, should be able to live their life with dignity and respect and without fear,” said Ross Murray, GLAAD’s Director of Programs, Global and US South. “We stand with Frank, Pepe, and all our Ugandan friends who are detained and call for their immediate release.”

Pepe Julian Onziema was at the 26^th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York, accepting the Award for Outstanding Talk Show Episode for his episode of HBO’s Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.

This story is breaking and ongoing. We’ll have more information soon. For more information on the larger context in Uganda, check out Human Rights Watch’s report on the broader human rights situation that this raid is occurring in.