Man, 20, faces death penalty for ‘aggravated homosexuality’

Prosecutors in Uganda have brought their first case under new anti-gay legislation.

Kenyana protest against Uganda's tough stance against homosexuality and in solidarity with their counterparts there

Prosecutors in Uganda have brought their first case under new anti-gay legislation against a 20-year-old man whose alleged offence is punishable by death.

The defendant was charged with “aggravated homosexuality” and remanded in custody weeks after the country introduced some of the world’s fiercest laws as part of a crackdown on same-sex relationships.

Those found guilty of same-sex intercourse face life in jail and capital punishment can apply in cases deemed “aggravated”, such as repeat offences or involving a minor.

Court documents stated the accused was arrested after he performed “unlawful sexual intercourse” with a 41-year-old man.

President Yoweri Museveni, Uganda’s long-serving autocratic leader, has ignored local and international criticism of the legislation, which President Joe Biden called a “violation of human rights”.

Mr Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, praised the MPs who passed the bill for having “rejected the pressure from the imperialists”. Identity politics and issues of sexuality have become an increasingly fraught issue between African and Western leaders, who are now competing for influence on the continent with China, Russia and the Gulf states.

Justine Balya, a lawyer for the defendant, said she believed the new legislation was unconstitutional and it was being challenged in court.

Ms Balya told Reuters that four other people had been charged under the law since its enactment and her client had been the first to be prosecuted under it for aggravated homosexuality.

The prosecution is likely to draw fresh ire from Washington, which warned Uganda when the new law was announced that it risked losing access to a preferential trade deal.

The World Bank announced it would freeze any new lending to the country to “protect sexual and gender minorities from discrimination and exclusion”.

The move followed the lobbying of the Washington-based lender by rights groups.

Uganda has not executed anyone in about two decades, but capital punishment has not been abolished and Mr Museveni threatened in 2018 to resume executions to stop a wave of crime.

THE TIMES