“The law has been struck on technicalities, so the big picture is still there,” he said.
Uganda’s constitutional court Friday overturned tough new anti-gay laws that had been branded draconian and “abominable” by rights groups, saying they had been wrongly passed by parliament.
Cheering gay rights activists celebrated the ruling, but supporters of the law said they would appeal at the Supreme Court.
“Justice prevailed, we won,” said lawyer Nicholas Opiyo, who led the challenge in the constitutional court.
“Justice prevailed, we won,” said lawyer Nicholas Opiyo, who led the challenge in the constitutional court.
“The
retrogressive anti-homosexuality act of Uganda has been struck down by
the constitutional court — it’s now dead as a door nail,” said Andrew
Mwenda, one of 10 petitioners.
The law, signed by
Uganda’s veteran President Yoweri Museveni in February, said that
homosexuals should be jailed for life, outlawed the promotion of
homosexuality and obliged Ugandans to denounce gays to the authorities.
US
Secretary of State John Kerry likened the law to anti-Semitic
legislation in Nazi Germany, and Western nations made a raft of aid cuts
to Uganda’s government.
But homosexuality in Uganda
remains illegal and punishable by jail sentences under previous
legislation, which is expected to return after the court’s decision.
Government
spokesman Ofwono Opondo said the law — as it is on paper — remains
valid, saying it had been struck down on a matter of procedure and not
over its content.
“The ruling has not nullified the
anti-homosexuality law, it only ruled on the validity of the procedure
in parliament,” he said.But gay rights activists were celebrating.
“I am no longer a criminal, today we have made history for generations to come,” said Kasha Jacqueline, another petitioner and a prominent gay rights activist.
“I am no longer a criminal, today we have made history for generations to come,” said Kasha Jacqueline, another petitioner and a prominent gay rights activist.
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