Uganda court hears challenge to harsh anti-gay lawA Ugandan constitutional court on Monday began hearing the first challenge to a draconian anti-gay law that has triggered criticism from the United Nations and led to US visa restrictions on government officials. “We agreed to proceed with written submissions as opposed to oral submissions,” Nicholas Opiyo, the lawyer representing the petitioners, told the court in Kampala on Monday. “Court shall give judgement on notice,” Uganda’s deputy chief justice Richard Buteera, who is heading the panel of five judges at the constitutional court, said during Monday’s hearing. But the law enjoys broad support in the conservative country, where lawmakers have defended the measures as a necessary bulwark against Western immorality. In 2014, international donors slashed aid to Uganda after Museveni approved a bill that sought to impose life imprisonment for homosexual relations, which was later overturned.

Source: Daily Nation December 18, 2023 19:51 UTC