Ugandan police have detained two young women in Arua City, northwestern Uganda, after neighbors reported them for allegedly kissing in public, an act deemed “same-sex activity” under the country’s strict 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Act. The arrests, which occurred on February 18, 2026, mark one of the first known enforcement cases involving women under the law, which imposes penalties of up to life imprisonment for such offenses.

The women; Wendy Faith, a 22-year-old musician known as Torrero Bae, and Alesi Diana Denise, 21, were taken into custody following a raid on their rented room. According to West Nile Regional Police spokesperson Josephine Angucia, neighbors had photographed the pair and alerted authorities, claiming they were frequently seen kissing openly and engaging in “queer and unusual acts believed to be sexual in nature.” Police stated they arrived to find the women “red-handed on the cement floor.” Investigations are ongoing, with no evidence reportedly found during a search of their residence, though multiple women were allegedly seen visiting.

The pair remains in detention without access to legal representation, drawing sharp criticism from LGBTQ+ rights advocates who argue the law fuels fear, blackmail, extortion, and targeted crackdowns. The Anti-Homosexuality Act, enacted in 2023, has been widely condemned internationally for its severe provisions, including potential death penalties in aggravated cases. Rights groups warn that such arrests deepen vulnerability within the community.

The incident has reignited global debate on human rights in Uganda, with calls for the law’s repeal amid ongoing international pressure.