Uganda drops case against women arrested for public kissing under anti-gay law
via Punch Nigeria1 min read
Ugandan prosecutors have withdrawn a case against two women, both in their 20s, who were arrested in February for kissing in public. The arrests followed a complaint from neighbors in Arua, who suspected "same-sex orgies." The case was dropped by the Director of Public Prosecutions, as confirmed by Irene Nakimbugwe, deputy spokesperson for the prosecutor's office. Human rights lawyer Frank Mugisha welcomed the decision, stating that kissing is not a crime and no one should be persecuted for their identity or love. He expressed hope that this decision would lead to a review of similar cases and the dropping of all unjust prosecutions under the Anti-Homosexuality Act, which he called for to be repealed. Uganda's 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Act imposes severe penalties, including life imprisonment for consensual same-sex relations and death for "aggravated homosexuality." Rights groups claim the law is used for blackmail and extortion against the LGBT community in Uganda. The law has drawn international condemnation and led to the World Bank suspending funding to the country, which resumed in mid-2025.
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