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Judge of the Ugandan Constitutional Court during a hearing on the anti-LGBTQ law
Photo: Hajarah Nalwadda/dpa
In Uganda there are discriminatory laws against queer people. The Constitutional Court has now confirmed the controversial law against homosexuality. The five judges who decided on a lawsuit against the internationally criticized law retained almost all of the provisions of the rules. According to the law, “participation in homosexual acts” carries a life sentence. “Severe homosexuality” carries the death penalty.
The parliament of the East African country passed the law last year. Representatives of the LGBTQ community have reported in recent months that attacks on homosexuals and trans people have increased since the law was passed.
Human rights activists, legal scholars and members of parliament from the ruling party had sued the law. The plaintiffs see the law as a violation of human rights as well as the right to protection from discrimination and the right to privacy guaranteed by Uganda's constitution.
LGBTQ is the English abbreviation for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer. Earlier this year, a well-known gay rights activist was stabbed and seriously injured in Uganda. The legal situation of openly queer people is not only dangerous in Uganda. Homosexuality is punishable in 32 African countries.
lpz/AFP/dpa