Soita Khatondi Wepukhulu

Based in Kampala, Uganda, Soita is openDemocracy’s East Africa reporter, working on our Tracking the Backlash feminist investigative journalism project. Contact her at: khatondi.soita@opendemocracy.net

Hospitals across East Africa offer controversial anti-gay counselling

Six-month openDemocracy investigation reveals ‘degrading and discriminatory’ treatment at health centres in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda

By Lydia Namubiru, Rael Ombuor and Soita Khatondi Wepukhulu

/ 2 Jul 2021

Hospitals across East Africa offer controversial anti-gay counselling

Aid donors to investigate anti-gay ‘therapy’ revealed by openDemocracy

Major NGOs that run clinics in Kenya and Tanzania also pledge action against ‘abhorrent’ practices to ‘change’ individuals’ sexual orientation

By Soita Khatondi Wepukhulu

/ 30 Jun 2021

Aid donors to investigate anti-gay ‘therapy’ revealed by openDemocracy

Anti-gay ‘therapy’ offered at Uganda health centres run by aid-funded groups

Major hospitals also offered undercover reporters counselling to ‘change’ their sexual orientation. Health experts blame a lack of regulation

By Soita Khatondi Wepukhulu

/ 30 Jun 2021

Anti-gay ‘therapy’ offered at Uganda health centres run by aid-funded groups

Uganda’s sexual offences law is a bitter lesson for the women’s movement

Why did women MPs support a new law that entrenches oppression?

By Soita Khatondi Wepukhulu

/ 6 May 2021

Uganda’s sexual offences law is a bitter lesson for the women’s movement

Exclusive: US Christian Right pours more than $50m into Africa

Conservative groups increase their spending and activity in what critics call an ‘opportunistic use of Africans’ for US-style ‘culture wars’

By Lydia Namubiru and Soita Khatondi Wepukhulu

/ 29 Oct 2020

Exclusive: US Christian Right pours more than $50m into Africa

Mistreated pregnant women deserve more than your outrage

A meaningful response to obstetric violence requires political will from policy-makers and accountability for government failures.

By Soita Khatondi Wepukhulu

/ 16 Oct 2020

Mistreated pregnant women deserve more than your outrage

Interactive: What women are telling us about childbirth in COVID-19

Our team of feminist investigative journalists is documenting abuses of women’s rights during COVID-19. We need your help to finish the job.

By Ani Hovhannisyan and Soita Khatondi Wepukhulu

/ 15 Oct 2020

Alcohol and junk food companies are exploiting the pandemic

From marketing beer with pandemic lingo to giving money to governments, a new report argues that corporate capture of COVID-19 is putting lives at risk.

By Kerry Cullinan and Soita Khatondi Wepukhulu

/ 10 Sep 2020

Alcohol and junk food companies are exploiting the pandemic

African governments warned of lawsuits for maternal deaths under COVID-19 lockdowns

Exclusive: Women have died or suffered unsafe births after transport bans, while hospitals report rising equipment shortages.

By Lydia Namubiru and Soita Khatondi Wepukhulu

/ 16 Jul 2020

African governments warned of lawsuits for maternal deaths under COVID-19 lockdowns

Sex workers abandoned as COVID crackdowns undo Africa’s HIV efforts

Controlling COVID-19 is worsening Africa’s HIV epidemic and destroying HIV services, with sex workers facing hardship, illness and death.

By Lydia Namubiru, Kerry Cullinan and Soita Khatondi Wepukhulu

/ 5 Jun 2020

Sex workers abandoned as COVID crackdowns undo Africa’s HIV efforts

Top Ugandan health official condemns US-linked ‘pregnancy crisis centres’ for opposing contraception

Abortion is illegal in Uganda but the government strongly promotes contraception. Unregulated centres “must be apprehended”, says top reproductive health official.

By Lydia Namubiru and Soita Khatondi Wepukhulu

/ 24 Feb 2020

Top Ugandan health official condemns US-linked ‘pregnancy crisis centres’ for opposing contraception