I'm Ayesha Rascoe, and this is the Sunday story.
This past spring, in the east african nation of Uganda, the country's highest court upheld the Anti Homosexuality act, which criminalizes the identities and behaviors of LGBTQ people and calls for tough sentences, including, in some cases, the death penalty.
Today, a story from Uganda about a trans woman who calls herself Rihanna Mukasa.
Rihanna was beaten and jailed for being trans, but she survived and eventually found her voice with the help of an unexpected ally, her very traditional and religious mother.
The story comes from our friends, a workshop, a podcast featuring the work of reporters across Africa, and just a note, this episode contains graphic descriptions of violence.
Now I'll hand it over to Lhsetti Muwakle, the host of radio workshop.
To begin Rihanna's story.
It was nine months, nine long months living in brutal conditions in prison in Kampala, Uganda.
Rihanna hadn't spoken to her mother during that time that had no contact.
So when Rihanna was released, she needed to see her mom.
She missed her and went to her house.
So when I reached, say, I found her while she was cooking supper.
Then I hugged her.
I cried.
She also cried.
She cried while beating me here.
You know, that kind of mother's punishments.
Why did you make me?
Why did you even have to be with those people?
Now you see where you were.