The Anti- Homosexuality Act, 2023 prescribes tough penalties for various offences, including participating in promotion, facilitation, and failure to report acts of homosexuality. Penalties range from death for aggravated homosexuality to imprisonment not exceeding 20 years.

The Constitutional Court has set December 11 to set issues to determine four petitions challenging the
legality of the Anti-Homosexuality Law that was enacted in May 2023. The court set the date after the petitioners agreed to consolidate all four petitions and 19 applications that were filed by different individuals and groups.

The petitioners include West Budama North East MP Fox Odoi, Uganda’s deputy High Commissioner to South Africa Kintu Nyango, veteran journalist Andrew Mwenda,Makerere University Law professors Sylvia Tamale and Busingye Kabumba, and several civil society organisations.

Sitting as a single judge of the Constitutional Court yesterday, Justice Geoffrey Kiryabwire agreed with the Attorney General’s submission to have all the petitions consolidated.

“If we are to handle one by one, we shall finish in 2026. We need to bring the petition for trial as quickly as possible. I want to see cooperation. You are all targeting the same law and I do not see why there are four petitions.I find it necessary to see the parties and see if they are interested in the matter,” Justice Kiryabwire held.

Mr Odoi, a former legal counsel to President Museveni, told court that they will go with the court’s guidance together with other petitioners to have the matter consolidated.