An official in Uganda revealed on Monday that prosecutors in the nation have charged a man with “aggravated homosexuality,” which is a crime that is punishable by death under the country’s new controversial anti-gay legislation. The law has been met with controversy.
The punishment for “aggravated homosexuality” is the death penalty, while the maximum sentence for “consensual same-sex encounters” is up to life in prison. The law is largely considered to be among the most egregious examples of its kind anywhere in the world.
We are aware that the suspect “was charged in Soroti” (which is located in eastern Uganda), and that he is now being held in prison on remand. “He will be appearing in court for mention of the case,” Jacquelyn Okui, a spokesman for Uganda’s office of public prosecutions, said. “The case will be mentioned in court.”
According to a charge document that was viewed by AFP on August 18, the suspect is a guy who is 20 years old and is suspected of having “unlawful sexual intercourse with… [a] male adult aged 41.”
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On the charge document, the following phrase could be found: “Statement of offence: aggravated homosexuality contrary to… Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023.”
Okui was quoted as saying that she was confused as to whether or not this was the first incidence of “aggravated homosexuality” under the new regulation in Uganda. This information was obtained from AFP.
The draconian legislation, which was passed into law in May, has been roundly attacked by international organizations, the governments of other nations (especially the government of the United States), and human rights groups from all over the globe.
The Constitution of Uganda states that “His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Uganda, General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, has executed his constitutional mandate.” This is stated in Article 91 (3) (a). Anita Among, the Speaker of the Ugandan Parliament, said that the President of Uganda has signed the Anti-Homosexuality Act, and she called on law enforcement to “enforce the law in a fair, steadfast, and firm manner.”
The World Bank said earlier this month that it will temporarily cease loans to the East African nation because the new constitution of the East African country “fundamentally contradicts” the objectives of the United States-based financial organization.
In May, Vice President Joe Biden referred to the limits as “a tragic violation of universal human rights” and threatened to stop U.S. aid and investment in Uganda unless they were promptly overturned. He also referred to the restrictions as “a tragic violation of universal human rights.”
Legislators have defended the laws by arguing that they are an essential defense against what they see as the immorality of the Western world. Despite this, the government has remained unmoved, and the measure has robust support in the conservative and mostly Christian country.
Museveni asserts that the World Bank is attempting to “coerce” the government into repealing the disputed legislation by threatening to withdraw money until the government does so.
LGBTQ organizations have expressed concern that the new rule in Uganda might inspire surrounding countries like Kenya to seek stricter prohibitions. Homosexual acts are already prohibited in more than 30 other African governments, so these organisations are concerned that the new rule in Uganda will push nearby countries like Kenya to pursue stronger regulations.
Critics of the new legislation believe that it unjustly targets members of the LGBTQ community, despite the fact that same-sex partnerships were already banned in Uganda before President Museveni signed the measure. As a direct consequence of the prohibition, a significant number of members of Uganda’s LGBT population have been compelled to seek asylum in neighboring countries or to conceal their identities.
Adrian Jjuuko, the chairman of the Human Rights Awareness and Promotion Forum, said that his organization “documented 17 arrests” in the months of June and July after the passage of the law.
Earlier this month, police apprehended four individuals, including two women, in the eastern area of Buikwe for allegedly engaging in same-sex activities in a massage parlor. Among the individuals seized were two males.
