Is Nigeria next? Under pressure, Uganda court revokes anti-gay law [DETAILS]

by Kolapo Olapoju

Members of Uganda's gay community reacts as the anti-gay law is declared null and void

Barely 4 months after Uganda’s President, Yoweri Museveni signed into law a bill criminalizing gay relations, an Ugandan court has annulled the country’s anti-gay legislation.

The annulment was done on Friday, 1 August, at a constitutional court which ruled that the anti-gay law is now null and void.

The presiding judge at the Constitutional Court said because not enough lawmakers had been present to vote on the bill passed in December 2013, hence it was therefore illegal.

After hearing the judgement, pro-gay activists present in the courtroom became jubilant and congratulated one another.

As opposed to the old law which made homosexuality an illegal act in the country, the new law bans promotion of homosexuality and imposed a life imprisonment sentence for aggravated homosexuality.

The old law had a sentence of life imprisonment for gay sex and oral sex and between five and seven years in jail or a $40,700 (£24,500) fine or both for the promotion of homosexuality.

It would be recalled that the country has been under pressure since it passed the draconian law, with the United States withdrawing crucial funding to the troubled country.

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