Ugandan court to hear cases challenging anti-gay law

Uganda’s constitutional court is due this morning to start hearing three petitions challenging the anti-homosexuality law that came into effect in May.

The law imposes capital punishments for those convicted of same-sex acts including death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality" - which can involve sex with children or vulnerable people.

It can also be deemed aggravated if someone is forced to have same-sex relations, contracts a life-long infection including HIV or in cases of serial offenders.

The petitioners, a group of individuals and human right organisations, argue that the law was passed without adequate and meaningful public participation and also violates some constitutional rights and freedoms.

The law has been described as draconian, inhumane and a tragic violation of universal human rights.

The petitioners in this case argue the legal and parliamentary affairs committee took a very short time to scrutinise and did not facilitate sufficient public participation.

The law, they say, is also in violation of constitutional rights and freedoms including the right to equality and non-discrimination, the right to dignity, privacy, health, freedom of expression and association.

In August, a 20-year-old man became the first person to be prosecuted for aggravated homosexuality and risks a death penalty.

A recent report said there had been over 300 human rights abuses this year against LGBTQ+ people.

Rights groups say people have been tortured, beaten, arrested, and outed because of their sexual orientation and gender identity.