Ugandan man faces death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality”
A 20-year-old man in Uganda may be sentenced to the death penalty on charges of “aggravated homosexuality”. The man appeared in court on 18 August in the city of Soroti, according to Jacquelyn Okui, spokesperson for the state prosecutors, who spoke with AFP news agency.
A charge sheet alleges that he engaged in intercourse with a 41-year-old man but no further details pertaining to the case were provided therein.
According to Reuters, given that the defendant is charged with a capital offence, he will remain in custody until his case is heard by the High Court. READ MORE: Anti-Homosexuality Bill: Uganda passes updated version of brutal law Speaking to Reuters, the 20-year-old’s lawyer, Justine Balya, claimed that her client was the first person to be prosecuted for this offence following the implementation of the Anti-Homosexuality Act, which was signed into law in May of this year.
This new anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation was originally passed on 21 March, but was then returned to Parliament by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, who demanded that it be made even harsher.
