The UK government are about to deport Jimmy Kyesswa, a gay Ugandan man, back to his death.
A flight has been booked for Monday, 5 December 2016 and we are asking that supporters sign the petition to stop the deportation and release him from detention. Please spread the word to as many friends and family as urgent action is required.
Jimmy was detained on 5 September 2016 and taken to Morton Hall Immigration Removal Centre in Lincolnshire. As we write he has been moved to Harmondsworth, a deportation centre near Heathrow Airport. He has NOT been informed of the exact flight details, so does not know the time or airline involved.
Despite Jimmy being in a subsisting same sex relationship with his boyfriend, Cyrille, the Home Office has refused to accept that he is a gay man. Jimmy came to the UK in January 2005 after suffering mistreatment in Uganda based on his sexuality.
Jimmy had hot water poured on him after being discovered with a man. The situation in Uganda is well known where gay people face persecution on a daily basis, such as mob violence, imprisonment and even death.
We urge the UK government to stop the deportation of Jimmy Kyesswa (Ugandan, HO Ref: K1298270, DOB 20/12/73) scheduled for 5 December 2016 and release him from detention.
Jimmy fled Uganda in January 2005 after he suffered persecution because of his sexuality. Jimmy had hot water poured on him after being discovered with a man. The situation in Uganda is well known where gay people face persecution on a daily basis, such as mob violence, imprisonment and even death.
Since being in the UK Jimmy has felt safe and has developed same sex relationships. He is currently in a subsisting same sex relationship with his boyfriend, Cyrille, which the Home Office is not recognising.
Jimmyis also involved with a number of LGBT organisations and has a high profile on the internet including Facebook. He has attended several LGBT events around the UK to campaign for LGBT rights and for the rights of gay people in Uganda.
If deported, Jimmy would lose his relationship with his boyfriend, his community in Manchester and try to avoid persecution by trying to live in hiding. We fear this he would be discovered and killed by homophobic mobs.
Jimmy's visibility and involvement in campaigning for gay rights especially in Uganda will put him in grave danger if deported back to Uganda.
