Is harsh Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Law constitutional? Court is about to decide
Court skips oral arguments and courtroom theatrics over the Anti-Homosexuality Law
Uganda’s Constitutional Court today began its deliberations on a challenge to the nation’s harsh new Anti-Homosexuality Law, which carries the death penalty for some same-sex acts, a life sentence for consensual same-sex intercourse and 20 years in prison for “promoting” homosexuality.
After the law was signed into law by President Yoweri Museveni in May, the U.S. and the World Bank protested and began imposing sanctions.
In a brief court session today, a panel of five judges received written submissions both from opponents and from supporters of the law.
Petitioners were told they would be notified when a ruling was ready.
Human rights attorney Nicholas Opiyo commented:
The choice of the court to hear and determine the challenge to Uganda’s anti-homosexuality by way of written submissions rather than oral presentation in court may have surprised many.
But the overall consideration- and many will disagree – was to avoid the theatrical intention of some of the people admitted into the process- whose only objective appeared to be using the court as a platform to raise money & profile.
[The court recently allowed prominent anti-gay Pastor Martin Ssempa to join the proceeding in defense of the law.]
