Summary:

• The Constitutional Court of Uganda has tentatively scheduled the landmark trial challenging the Anti-Homosexuality Act for December 18, following an agreement to consolidate petitions asserting that the law violates constitutional and international rights, with the US imposing visa restrictions on Ugandan officials involved in repressive policies against marginalized populations.

Kampala, Uganda | THE BLACK EXAMINER | The commencement date for the landmark trial challenging the constitutionality of Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act has been tentatively scheduled for December 18 by the Constitutional Court of Uganda.

This development follows an earlier agreement between the involved parties to consolidate four petitions challenging the draconian law, along with 11 other related applications filed with the court. The petitions, submitted by human rights activists, journalists, religious leaders, and academics shortly after President Yoweri Museveni signed the law in May of this year, contend that the Anti-Homosexuality Act infringes upon constitutional rights, including privacy, freedom of thought, conscience, belief, and freedom from discrimination.

The petitioners argue that the law violates various international human rights treaties and was hastily passed through parliament without sufficient public consultation, especially with the LGBTQ+ community.

In 2014, the Constitutional Court of Uganda invalidated an earlier version of the Anti-Homosexuality Act on procedural grounds, citing insufficient MPs present during the vote.

Described by Human Rights Watch as “one of the world’s harshest anti-LGBT laws,” the Anti-Homosexuality Act imposes severe penalties, including life imprisonment for engaging in homosexual acts, the death penalty for “aggravated” homosexuality, and a 20-year prison sentence for advocating LGBTQ+ rights.

The law also criminalizes the “promotion of homosexuality,” potentially leading to human rights defenders advocating for LGBT rights being jailed for up to 20 years. Even landlords may face up to seven years in prison if they knowingly allow their premises to be used by LGBT individuals engaging in intimate relationships.

In response to these developments, the US State Department recently announced additional visa restrictions against Ugandan officials believed to be involved in policies or actions aimed at repressing members of marginalized or vulnerable populations, including LGBTQI+ individuals.