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11/25/2024 05:01:27 am

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Uganda Court Nullifies Anti-Gay Law

Gay rights protest

(Photo : REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth) An activist holds a banner during a gay rights protest outside Uganda House.

A Uganda constitutional court ruled on Friday that the country's anti-gay law is not valid because it was passed by the  parliament without the required quorum.

The Anti-Homosexuality Act, which was passed in February, was struck down by a panel of five judges in a courtroom filled with activists and watchdogs waiting for the verdict in Kampala.

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Gay rights activists and other members of the community rejoiced when the panel declared the law as "null and void."

However, several rights groups are still contempating whether or not the court's ruling should be contested.

Ofwono Opondo, a spokesperson for the Ugandan government, said they are looking into disputing the decision at the Supreme Court. The government is now waiting for the advice of the attorney general on how to proceed on the matter.

The voided law stipulated a life imprisonment penalty for those who are found guilty of having homosexual intercourse. People who are convicted with "attempted homosexuality" will also be sanctioned a lengthy jail term.

A good number of Ugandan citizens are supportive of the anti-gay measure but it has created a conflict between the Ugandan government and the West.

Western governments were appalled when the bill was signed by Ugandan president Yoweri Musevini into law. They criticized the decision and have even threatened to cut off financial aid for Uganda.

James Nbasa Buturo, Uganda's Minister of Ethics and Integrity, proposed a revision on the bill in 2013 after the country received threats on the termination of financial aid.

Butoro said that instead of the original sanction of death penalty to those who are found guilty of engaging in same-sex relations, the penalty will be life imprisonment.

After the revision was made, Musevini sought the advice of medical experts to determine if homosexuality is a social behavior or genetically predetermined, saying it would be wrong to punish them if they were born homosexual.

The president signed the bill into law after a scientific study concluded that homosexuality was a choice.

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