Written By: Jacobs Dunga
On Wednesday, April 3, a Ugandan constitutional court ruled to uphold the strict anti-LGBTQ law that was passed around May 2023.
Uganda operates under one of the most severe anti-gay laws which includes punishment up to the death penalty for violators.
The law has seen condemnation from the Western world with calls for the supposedly harsh measures to be reviewed by the country’s judiciary system.
However, the country is not backing down on its stance concerning LGBTQ in the land and would instead, eliminate a few sections that seem “inconsistent with the right to health, privacy and freedom of religion”. Report Reuters.
“We decline to nullify the Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023 in its entirety, neither will we grant a permanent injunction against its enforcement,” said lead judge Richard Buteera, reading the judgment on behalf of his four colleagues.
The country suffered consequences as a result of the enactment of the law last year, some of which include the World Bank halting new lending to the country and the United States announcing visa and travel restrictions for Ugandan officials.
Petitioners against the law include a lawmaker and Frank Mugisha, Uganda’s most prominent LGBTQ activist. They asked judges to strike the law down, saying it violated their constitutional rights.
Petitioners are allowed to appeal to the Supreme Court over the ruling which has in recent times become a growing measure African African states.
Source: www.thenewindependentonline.com
