Uganda's top court upholds anti-LGBTQ law but says some rights infringed

[Jessica_Rose]

Uganda's top court upholds anti-LGBTQ law but says some rights infringed

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/uganda-s-top-court-upholds-anti-lgbtq-law-but-says-some-rights-infringed/ar-BB1kZNpK?ocid=windirect&cvid=aa584c4680dc4e4985cb2d5d915a8249&ei=47

Story by Reuters (3 April 2024)

KAMPALA (Reuters) -Uganda's constitutional court on Wednesday refused to annul or suspend an anti-LGBTQ law that includes the death penalty for certain same-sex acts, but found some of its provisions inconsistent with certain fundamental human rights.

The legislation, adopted in May last year, is among the world's harshest anti-gay laws and has drawn condemnation from rights campaigners and sanctions from Western nations.

Activists say the law has unleashed a torrent of abuse against LGBTQ people, including torture, rape, arrest and eviction.

"We decline to nullify the Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023 in its entirety, neither will we grant a permanent injunction against its enforcement," said lead judge Richard Buteera, reading the judgment on behalf of his four colleagues.

However, the court struck down certain sections it said were "inconsistent with right to health, privacy and freedom of religion".

In particular the court said the section of the legislation requiring the mandatory reporting to authorities of people suspected of having committed homosexual offences violated individual rights.