Uganda Court Upholds Controversial Anti-Gay Law Despite International Condemnation
Uganda’s Constitutional Court has upheld the controversial Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023, rejecting a petition seeking to annul the law. The legislation, which imposes penalties of up to life imprisonment for consensual same-sex relations and includes provisions for the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality,” has sparked outrage both domestically and internationally.
In a landmark ruling, Justice Richard Buteera, Uganda’s deputy chief justice, announced that the court declined to nullify the law in its entirety or grant a permanent injunction against its enforcement. While the court acknowledged that some sections of the law violated the right to health and were inconsistent with certain fundamental rights, it stopped short of blocking or suspending the law.

The Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023, signed into law by President Yoweri Museveni in May last year, defines “aggravated homosexuality” as cases involving minors, vulnerable individuals, or HIV-infected perpetrators. The law has faced criticism from LGBTQ+ activists, rights campaigners, the United Nations, and Western nations, who have condemned it as one of the toughest anti-gay laws in the world.
Despite mounting pressure from the international community, President Museveni’s government has remained defiant, accusing the West of attempting to impose its values on Africa. The law enjoys broad support within Uganda, where lawmakers defend it as a necessary measure to uphold traditional morality.
The petition against the law was brought by two law professors, legislators from the ruling party, and human rights activists, who argued that it violated fundamental rights guaranteed by Uganda’s constitution and contravened international human rights law. However, the court’s ruling underscores the ongoing challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in Uganda and the broader fight for equality and human rights in the region.
The decision by the Constitutional Court is part of a broader trend of anti-gay crackdowns across Africa, with countries like Ghana recently passing stringent anti-gay legislation. Homosexuality remains criminalized in more than 30 African countries, reflecting deeply entrenched cultural attitudes and resistance to LGBTQ+ rights.
The ruling is likely to reignite debates around LGBTQ+ rights in Uganda and renew calls for international action to address discrimination and persecution based on sexual orientation. Despite the setback, activists vow to continue their fight for equality and justice for all marginalized communities in Uganda and beyond.