After two days in detention, activists against the recently-signed anti-homosexuality law have been remanded to Luzira prisons until July 16th 2024.
The 6 activists that were charged with “Common Nuisance contrary to Section 160 of the Penal Code cap 120” were arraigned before City Hall Court this morning.
Section 160 of the Uganda Penal Code reads that “any person who unlawfully has carnal knowledge of any person against the order of nature commits an offence and is liable to imprisonment for life.”
The Anti-Homosexual Law 2023 criminalizes several aspects of homosexuality including its promotion and abetting. It also criminalizes utterances that promote homosexuality.
In April, activists who had gone to court to challenge the law were shocked when the law was upheld with majority of its provisions untouched. The petitioners were argued that apart from imposing severe penalties, it infringes upon personal freedoms, rights and dignity while hindering the fight against HIV and AIDS.
The activists remanded are the first of the kind marching against the law, as other times, the struggle against the law has been before the courts.
In 2014, the courts annulled the Anti-gay law for having been passed without quorum.
On Tuesday, the activists wearing gay pride overalls stormed parliamentary buildings with their placards this morning, “Homosexuality is a right, corruption is immoral.”
The activists say that this Act is one of the harshest in the world, and poses severe violations of universal human rights, particularly targeting LGBTQ individuals. “It stands in stark contradiction to the Ugandan Constitution and international treaties to which Uganda is a signatory.”
