Human Rights Watch: Ugandan ruling against gay rights activists ‘deeply flawed’

The Human Rights Watch (HRW) has strongly criticised a ruling against gay activists who sued a Ugandan official for violating their rights.

A group of four Uganda gay rights activists sued Ethics Minister Simon Lokodo after he took action to close a workshop back in 2012.

Participants and organisers of the workshop were threatened with arrest.

The HRW criticised the judge’s ruling in favour of Lokodo as “deeply flawed”. The judge ruled in the minister’s favour, saying those involved in the workshop had promoted homosexuality.

Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act, a law further criminalising same-sex sexual activity, allowing repeat offenders to be sentenced to 14 years in prison, was given presidential approval by President Yoweri Museveni in February.

Minister for Ethics and Integrity Simon Lokodo, defended the law, nicknamed the “jail the gays” bill, following the announcement that President Yoweri Museveni would sign the bill. 

Lokodo in May accused the country’s HIV support groups of “promoting homosexuality” and warns that he will take action against them.