Adam was only 13 years old when both of his parents died of AIDS. His grandparents took him in but quickly suspected Adam of being gay. The people of Jinja, Uganda are deeply prejudiced against all forms of homosexuality. So when Adam’s grandparents told his uncle to take action; Adam was in danger. Adam was then drugged and brutally beaten by his uncle. Adam was put into a potato sack and tied to a tree in the middle of the forest. Luckily he was able to free himself and walk to the nearest town 10 kilometers away without food or water. He was on the verge of death when Ivan (Pan Reformica team member) saw him enter the town. Ivan gave him food and water but, unfortunately, did not have space available in the group home for Adam to live. Adam spent two years on the streets before the town found out that he was gay. When they did, a large mob was formed to murder Adam. Adam somehow managed to escape and find refuge under a bridge. He died of starvation two days later at the age of 15. People like Adam die everyday because there is not enough money to fight the war against homophobia.
Pan Reformica
“I wake up every morning at 4AM, I silently wake my friends up as well. I always do it silently because I am always so scared that one or more of them will not wake up alive. After days of starvation, suffering from diseases with infected wounds, and eating poison, you never know who will survive the night. The night is the scariest part of our days. We sleep in fear that we will not be able to wake up. I normally sleep last, I fear the night a lot.” Jonathan escaped death from Masaka after his cousin revealed his homosexuality to his parents. He was then locked in his house and assaulted with the intention of murder. After lots of hits he was tied in a sack and dragged into Lake Victoria to drown. Luckily, he was rescued by early morning fishermen. They took him in, and immediately he started to recover. The fishermen tried to contact his family and give Jonathan back. In fear, he ran to the streets before they could do so. Jonathan understood if the fisherman found out he was gay, it would be his last day. Jonathan is still alive because Pan Reformica team member has provided him with a place in a group home. Unfortunately, there are many like Jonanthan without space in a group home due to financial limitations.
Pan Reformica