Uganda Court Discharges 2 Women After 5 Months Jailed Under Anti-LGBTQ+ Law

1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 24

Arua chief magistrate Conrad Oroya Obol last week halted proceedings and discharged Wendy Faith, 22, and Alesi Diana Denise, 21, who had faced life imprisonment over alleged same-sex activity.
The case stemmed from a February police raid after the pair were reportedly seen kissing in public, an accusation prosecutors pursued under Uganda’s 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Act.
Five months in custody left the women traumatised, they said, describing beatings, overcrowded cells and continuing threats, stigma and lost income even after their release.
Rights advocates said the dropped charges do not undo the harm, arguing the case shows how the law is still used to intimidate LGBTQ+ Ugandans even without convictions.
Uganda’s law—upheld in part by the constitutional court in April 2024—allows life sentences for same-sex relations and the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality.”