A British man faces trial in Uganda on
Monday over the publication of images of him having sex with another
man.
Bernard Randall, a retired 65-year-old
former computer analyst from Faversham, and his Ugandan partner,
30-year-old Albert Cheptoyek, were arrested in their Ugandan home
following publication of the pictures.
Randall stands accused of “trafficking
obscene material,” which carries a prison sentence of up to two
years, while Cheptoyek has been accused of “acts of gross
indecency,” a more serious offense which carries a seven year
prison term.
“The charges are nonsensical,”
Randall told the UK's The
Independent. “The publication of the pictures was a
consequence of the theft of my laptop. I wasn't publishing them.
They were very private videos of my private life that got stolen.”
Randall said that he and Cheptoyek were
“taken away from our home at 6:30 AM and thrown into cells where we
spent three nights and three whole days until we were charged.”
He said that they shared the cell with
18 other criminals.
Uganda's harsh anti-gay laws are the
subject of the documentaries God
Loves Uganda and Call
Me Kuchu.