In a highly anticipated ruling, Uganda’s Constitutional Court will deliver its verdict on Wednesday regarding a legal challenge against the country’s stringent anti-gay legislation, deemed one of the toughest globally.
Enacted in May of the previous year, the law sparked widespread condemnation from human rights advocates, the United Nations, and Western nations.
Dubbed the Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023, it imposes severe penalties, including life imprisonment for consensual same-sex relationships, with “aggravated homosexuality” carrying the threat of death.
Deputy Registrar Susanne Okeny Anyala announced that the Constitutional Court in Kampala will announce its decision at 10 am local time (0700 GMT) on Wednesday.
The legal challenge was mounted by two law professors from Makerere University, ruling party legislators, and human rights activists, who argue that the law violates fundamental rights enshrined in Uganda’s constitution, such as freedom from discrimination and the right to privacy.
Additionally, they contend that it runs counter to Uganda’s obligations under international human rights treaties, including the United Nations convention against torture.
