Gay rights activists and politicians in
Uganda on Tuesday filed a challenge in court to a harsh anti-gay law.
The measure, signed last month by
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, calls for life imprisonment for
the crime of “aggravated homosexuality,” outlaws the promotion of
gay rights and requires individuals to turn in anyone they suspect of
being gay.
The challenge, submitted at Uganda's
constitutional court, argues that the law violates the nation's
constitution.
“I believe it [the law] to be
harmful, redundant, unnecessary and inconsistent with the
constitution,” Fox Odoi, an MP, told the AFP.
“The rights that are guaranteed in
the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda. I have looked at the
treaty obligations that Uganda has signed. I have looked at the law
and come to the conclusion that it offends many articles of the
constitution and of our treaty obligations,” he added.
Morris Ogenga-Latigo, another
politician involved in the challenge, said that under the law he
would be forced to turn in his children if they turned out to be gay.
“The one aspect which is really
horrid, is that if you know somebody is homosexual or lesbian or
something like that, you must report. Otherwise you commit an
offense. If my son or my daughter is one of them by the will of
nature, why must you compel me to do that?” he said.
Activists said that anti-gay rhetoric
and violence had increased since the law was signed.
Sweden and four other donors – World
Bank, Norway, Netherlands and Denmark – have suspended part of
their financial aid to the nation.