Uganda's Anti-Gay Law Takes Its First Victim As Man is Charged with Aggravated Homosexuality : Suspect May Face The Death Penalty

In a groundbreaking development, Ugandan authorities have brought charges of aggravated homosexuality against an individual, marking the first application of this charge since the enactment of a contentious anti-gay law in May. 

This law, which has garnered substantial support within Uganda, has faced international criticism for its perceived draconian nature.

The global community's disapproval prompted the World Bank to announce a decision not to entertain new loan requests from Uganda due to the law, triggering a strong reaction from President Yoweri Museveni.

The accused in this case is a 20-year-old resident described as a "peasant" in the eastern district of Soroti. 

On August 18, authorities charged him with engaging in unlawful sexual intercourse with a 41-year-old man, as detailed in the official police charging document from the Soroti Central Division.

Aggravated homosexuality, under the law, encompasses cases of same-sex sexual relations involving minors or other vulnerable individuals, or when the perpetrator is HIV-positive. 

However, the charging document does not specify the aggravating factor in this particular case or elaborate on how the victim might belong to a vulnerable category.

The incident is reported to have occurred at a sports stadium in Soroti, though no further information is available regarding the circumstances. 

The identity of the defendant's legal representation also remains undisclosed.

Rights groups and activists have vehemently criticized the law. A group of U.N. experts condemned it as a "flagrant violation of human rights," while Amnesty International labeled it "draconian and overly broad."

According to the new law, a suspect convicted of attempted aggravated homosexuality may face imprisonment for up to 14 years. 

Notably, the legislation passed in May does not criminalize individuals identifying as LGBTQ+, addressing a concern raised by activists who previously campaigned against an earlier version of the law.

It is essential to acknowledge that homosexuality is criminalized in over 30 of Africa's 54 countries. Some view it as a behavior imported from abroad rather than a sexual orientation.

Meanwhile, in Nigeria, police recently announced the detention of at least 67 people who were celebrating a same-sex wedding. 

This mass detention underscores the continued prohibition of homosexuality in the West African nation, sparking further controversy.

In another news, a gender reveal party in Mexico took a dark turn after the plane used for the gender reveal crashed, killing the pilot. See detailed story here

[SOURCE]