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Uganda's 'anti-homosexuality' law is delared null and void

A court in Uganda has struck down a law banning homosexuality. The Constitutional court there dec...
Newstalk
Newstalk

13.48 1 Aug 2014


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Uganda's 'anti...

Uganda's 'anti-homosexuality' law is delared null and void

Newstalk
Newstalk

13.48 1 Aug 2014


Share this article


A court in Uganda has struck down a law banning homosexuality. The Constitutional court there declared the rule null and void.

The law received international condemnation as it imposed lengthy jail terms for homosexual acts.

President Museveni signed the Anti-Homosexuality Bill into law in February. Amnesty International called it "a draconian and damaging piece of legislation".

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It also included offences such as 'promotion of homosexuality', which Amnesty said directly impacted human rights defenders and healthcare providers.

Uganda's Constitutional court today said that the Act was "null and void" as not enough representatives were in the room for the vote when it was passed by parliament in December 2013.

Activists erupted in loud cheers after the court ruled.

On the back of this ruling, Africa deputy regional director at Amnesty Sarah Jackson said "Even though Uganda's abominable Anti-Homosexuality Act was scrapped on the basis of a technicality, it is a significant victory for Ugandan activists who have campaigned against this law".

"Since it was first being floated in 2009, these activists have often put their safety on the line to ensure that Ugandan law upholds human rights principles".

"We now hope that this step forward translates into real improvements in the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex people in Uganda, who have been trapped in a vicious circle of discrimination, threats, abuse and injustice for too long" she added.

Since it came into force in March, Amnesty says it documented a sharp increase in arbitrary arrests, police abuse and extortion against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex people.

Many lost their jobs, were left homeless or were effectively forced to flee the country, it says.


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