Lesbian Refugee Experience: Watsemba Annah's Story of Survival & Hope

This story was shared with us by Watsemba Annah, a 30-year-old Ugandan lesbian activist currently living in Gorom Refugee Camp, South Sudan. She asked that we share her truth unedited so the world can see the reality many LBQ+ women, especially those in the Global South, face. Her story is a powerful example of the lesbian refugee experience—marked by persecution, resilience, and the ongoing fight for safety and dignity. We are honored to help amplify her voice.

⚠️ This story contains references to sexual violence, abuse, and trauma.

"Hello everyone, I am called Watsemba Annah, 30 years old, Ugandan, and currently living in Gorom resettlement camp in South Sudan. I knew my sexuality at an early age (13) while in primary level and I grew up in a culturally centered region that forbids same-sex companionship. Most people wondered as to why I wasn't active sexually because I spent much of my time with fellow women.

Watsemba Annah and Son

As I got to adolescence in secondary level, here I was open enough to any beautiful girl for love, and life was awesome on my side. I didn't went far with education because my parents refused to pay school fees. This was because they had already gotten cases at school for engaging in same-sex relationships. At this time I had to go back to village and stay with my parents. Still, they were not supportive to me and life turned harder. I had to look for a job to sustain myself. I was a bar waitress; I spent almost 2 years there.

Allen got interested in me, she was also a lesbian,  we pushed life together for a little while but unfortunately our landlord realised it and we were chased away. I returned back to village and my parents thought am possessed by the devil to be a lesbian. A pastor from nowhere came to pray for me, nothing changed in my soul and mind but I pretended there was a change, later the same pastor took advantage of it and married me, I thought this could make my parents happy but honestly it wasn't love. Before getting married to the pastor,  he had a child of almost my age, she was called Rita, I stayed in marriage for 4 years and produced a son with him,  most of the times when pastor went for his services, we used to show love together me and Rita. 

One day Rita requested money from me which I wasn't having at the moment. I delayed and she got annoyed,  she set me up, and I was caught pleading for her love. They were alarmed, and a mob of people gathered. I was beaten and undressed in public, walking 3 kilometers to a police cell. At evening time, my mom brought my son at the police cell, she told me she doesn't want to take care of a son of a lesbian, so we had to be in a cell together with my son. at midnight, three police officers raped me, beat me severely, bleed from all outlets of my body. They carried and dropped me at the borders of Uganda and Kenya, very early in the morning.

I knew more people can come and do harm to me so I saw a truck driver crossing the border into Kenya, he was carrying tomatoes, I was crying and lied to him, he had sympathy and gave me a lift. He took me to Red Cross and they took me to Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya.

I spent 4 years here. I was registered as an asylum seeker. I had to look for fellow LGBT people to show me how to push the process of getting resettlement in safe environment. Fellow refugees turned too homophobic (verbal and physical harassment, threatening, etc.). Some people ended up dying, others went missing, and many nursed serious wounds from daily attacks during the night.

Watsemba Annah's son

We tried to forward and report this to UNHCR and related camp securities, but no help came out.... I and a few of my friends sold all valuable belongings (shelter and house utensils) to get transport to another neighboring camp in South Sudan. 

I thought upon arriving here life would be a bit safer, but all was a mess. UNHCR South Sudan tries to get us resettlement as fast compared to Kenya; the process needs patience, but life without basics has to maintain no food, no education for my son, and insufficient medication amongst us.

The country is politically unstable, the weather situation is tough (too hot), and poor hygiene is mixed with illiterate, superstitious people, so apparently life is tough."

How You Can Support This Lesbian Refugee Experience

• Share her story widely.

• Connect her to legal aid, resettlement services, or financial support

Email: watsembanna@yahoo.com

WhatsApp and Call: +254712195209

If you'd like to help Annah directly, please consider donating below.

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