A Kampala-based poet who alleges he was sexually assaulted by his gay friend has said he will not relent until his abuser whom he describes as a “serial abuser”, is apprehended.
Lus the Poet shared a harrowing story of how he almost got raped by his gay friend identified as Timothy Bukenya, an advertising executive in Kampala.
The incident is said to have happened on the night of Friday, March 1 in Mutungo, a Kampala outskirt.
Lus had performed at a poetry night in Bugolobi and was on his way home when he encountered Bukenya, an executive at Fine Media.
On his way home on a boda boda, around midnight, Lus had made a stop at Shell Bugolobi to get a cold drink.
“Now while I was getting out the drink, I felt a tap on my shoulder. It was a longtime friend, TIMOTHY BUKENYA. I was truly very happy to see him. This night was getting better!,” Lus wrote on his Facebook page.
“We told each other the “long time” line about three times, asked the follow-up questions and eventually he asked why I was out so late, I reminded him it was a Friday, he noticed I was rushing, he asked why. I told him it’s the boda guy rushing me, he hates the stops. I get to the counter to pay for my things and he says he will pay,” adds the poet.
Bukenya would then tell him to let the boda boda go “because we had to catch up” and that he would drop him home since he had a car.
The two got in Bukenya’s car and drove off. As they drove towards Zone 7 in Mbuya, Bukenya said he had forgotten to buy something at the supermarket, so he made a turn and drove back.
“He transitioned the conversation to a very uncomfortable one. We weren’t catching up anymore. He was asking about my prostate health and I thought that was just too weird. But I engaged a little,” the poet recollects.
In the conversation, Bukenya went on about how young men these days should get over themselves and have sex with everyone including with fellow men.
“By this, he meant all young men should have sex with other men. I thought he was joking so I laughed, he’s a bit older, so I was very glad he was that open minded but at the same time I didn’t want the conversation. And I told him that, he laughed and continued talking.”
Lus adds that his friend then became more direct and expressed his interest in him. Which advances he declined.
When they got to the supermarket, Bukenya asked him to wait. He got out of the car but left the door locks in to prevent Lus from getting out.
“When he got back into the car, he continued with his convincing, he said he knew a spot to park somewhere in Mutungo, that no one could bother us there, it would take a few minutes, and he was sure I could like it.”
“I said no to his suggestion/offer, countless times, yelled at him. Told him to let me out or somewhere I could get a ride because the road was now totally empty. He was frustrated, he said fine, I’ll drop you in Kireka.”
Lus noticed Bukenya had only bought wipes from the supermarket, which left him wondering what could possibly have been so important that the friend drove all the way back just to buy wipes.
He then noticed that Bukenya had deviated from the route that would ideally lead them to Kireka. When he reacted, the now agitated driver drove faster. Despite asking him to slow down and let him out of the car.
“He kept saying I’m being a bitch and that we just had to get to the place. He made a lot of turns, I could hardly get my muscle memory to trace the way back. So jumping out of the car was totally useless. I had to think of something else, but it was hard to think.”
When they got to a certain quiet spot uphill which Lus describes as an empty piece land, Bukenya said he was getting out to pee. He got out and left the door locks in once again. He recalls feeling really scared.
Bukenya got back in the car in a matter of seconds.
“I told him I really didn’t want to do anything, by now he had stopped talking, he had started touching. He touched me everywhere, for a couple of minutes, as he touched himself everywhere, while rubbing his d**k until it got hard, saying a lot of nasty things,” Lus wrote.
“I now know what it feels like to really want someone to just cum. I found myself praying for another man’s orgasm to happen. It finally did, he told me to pass him the wipes. And that was the last word he said. I can’t go deeper into the details because I am trying to forget.”
Bukenya then drove him back to the road where he stopped a boda boda and wired him Ushs 27,000 through Mobile Money. Lus got on the boda boda and went home. He says the incident has since taken a mental toll on him and that his attempts to confront his alleged abuser have only got him arrogant and unremorseful responses.
Bukenya is Director of Support and Convergence at Fine Media, an advertising agency, specializing in execution of transformative experiences and engagements over various channels. He has previously worked with NBS TV as a sales executive.
He also once led Evoke, a lifestyle outfit that previously curated Evoke Night, a monthly event whose objective was to depict a youthful culture through entertainment.
Bukenya denies the allegations made by Lus. In a statement shared on his X page, part of which has since been deleted, Bukenya describes the claims by the poet as fiction.
“I am a peace-loving law-abiding citizen, a person with good judgment and the ability to exercise respect for the rights of others and self-control,” Bukenya wrote.
Adding; “I would have to be so strong to tussle it out with a fellow man. Thirdly, all car owners know that there is no baby lock in the front seat where Lus was seated, as alleged. How is it possible to rape a man in a car with all the limitations of space?”
Bukenya says this could all be part of what he termed as ‘corporate espionage’ given that at his workplace, he has recently been involved in high-level sensitive business. He also accused Lus of using drugs and that Lus’s recollection of events may have something to do with that.
He says he has since decided to indefinitely step down from his role of Director of Support and Convergence at Fine Media “to allow for a logical conclusion of the matter without any interference from me”.
“I have learned to rely on time as my silent witness and I’m sure the truth shall come to light. I thought I should share my side of things. In so doing, I don’t come back or make anyone look bad or fight anyone; but also throw light on how disruptive it is for the lives of people who are falsely accused,” adds the statement by Bukenya.
But Lus says he won’t relent in exposing Timothy’s “serial habits” until he is arrested. He has since filed a formal complaint at Jinja Road Police Station. When contacted by Plugged, Police spokesperson was yet to establish details surrounding the complaint.
Responding to claims that he uses drugs, the poet says he is going to take a drug test to prove he is not a user. “In return, you will have to explain what exactly gave you the impression that I might have been on drugs.”
The Association of Poets in Uganda has come out to denounce acts of sexual assault and harassment, saying they were “gravely troubled” by allegations raised by their member, Lus.
“The Poets Association of Uganda remains steadfast in its commitment to upholding truth, equality, fairness and justice,” reads a statement signed by Sarah Nankunda Aimar, the Secretary General, Poets Association of Uganda (PAU).
“We wish to underscore the paramount importance of solidarity, empathy, and decisive action in confronting injustice. Let’s persist in supporting one another, united against all manifestations of abuse and discrimination. Our unified voice and concerted actions serve as potent catalysts for societal transformation, fostering a safer and more inclusive environment for all,” the statement further reads.
In March last year, Uganda enacted a law criminalizing acts of homosexuality. According to Article II (3) of the same law, anyone who attempts homosexuality is liable to imprisonment for up to 10 years upon conviction.
Subsection 4 of the same clause states that a person shall be deemed to attempt to commit homosexuality when the said person begins to put his or her intention into execution by means adapted to its fulfillment, and manifests his or her intention by some overt act, but does not fulfill his or her intention to such an extent as to commit the offence.
