April 24, 2025
Trending News

Ugandan activists challenge new anti-LGBTIQ law in Constitutional Court

  • May 30, 2023
  • 0

A group of eleven leading activists, scientists and journalists from Ugandaamong others, filed an appeal with the Constitutional Court of the country recently approved anti-LGBTIQ lawafter claiming that

A group of eleven leading activists, scientists and journalists from Ugandaamong others, filed an appeal with the Constitutional Court of the country recently approved anti-LGBTIQ lawafter claiming that this text violates several rights contained in the “key provisions” of the Ugandan Constitution.

“The criminalization of what we call consensual adult sexual activity basically goes against key provisions of the Constitution, including rights to equality and non-discriminationto the dignity, to the freedom of Ugandans, to the privacy of every individual and to health,” said Adrian Juko, executive director of the NGO Forum on Awareness and Advancement of Human Rights (signatory organization) Adrian Juko, in statements collected by local media on Tuesday.

Similarly, Jyuko pointed out that the country is “failing in its commitment to fight HIV/AIDS by passing a law that forces people LGBT hide“something that will prevent them from accessing the health services they need.

Photo: Reuters

The lawsuit also alleges that the law was passed without the participation of enough citizens in its debate, which deprived LGBTIQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer) the opportunity to express their opinion.

In addition, according to the plaintiffs, there is a penalty of up to twenty years in prison for “propaganda of homosexuality“contradicts the right to freedom of speech, thought, conscience and belief, as well as the right to issue and receive information.

Among the plaintiffs are Academicians SylvieTamale and Busingye Kabumba, well-known and influential journalist among the highest political circles of Uganda, Andrew Mwenda, as well as activists Frank Mugisa, Kasha Jaeckelin Nabagisira and Solome Nakavisi Kimbugwe and others.

As the Ugandan parliament announced on Monday, President Yoweri Museveni approved controversial anti-LGBTIQ law, one of the toughest against this group in the world, despite the president’s desire to soften the original text after harsh condemnation from the West.

Photo: Reuters

Legal text punishes by death “aggravated homosexuality“, a broad term used to refer to the fact of maintaining an intimate relationship with a minor or other vulnerable groups.

Human rights groups in Uganda, a coalition of organizations calling for equality (CFE), the UN Human Rights Office and the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), have already declared their opposition to the law.

In addition, on Monday the United States threatened sanctions against the country “for the tragic violation of universal human rights”.

(EFE)

Source: Aristegui Noticias

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Exit mobile version