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| Ugandan men first to face trial under severe anti-gay laws | Ugandan men first to face trial under severe anti-gay laws |
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| A Ugandan court has started hearing the case against two Ugandan men accused of engaging in gay sex – the first trial of homosexuals in the country since a severe law was passed in February. | A Ugandan court has started hearing the case against two Ugandan men accused of engaging in gay sex – the first trial of homosexuals in the country since a severe law was passed in February. |
| The detained couple appeared before a magistrate's court in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, on Wednesday to apply for bail after prosecutors said they had enough evidence to proceed with the case. | |
| Ugandan police arrested the couple in January as they fled an angry mob, according to the Human Rights Awareness and Promotion Forum, a local watchdog group. | Ugandan police arrested the couple in January as they fled an angry mob, according to the Human Rights Awareness and Promotion Forum, a local watchdog group. |
| Prosecutors have lined up several witnesses to testify against the two, who have been charged with engaging in sex acts "against the order of nature", said their lawyer, Ladislaus Rwakafuuzi. | Prosecutors have lined up several witnesses to testify against the two, who have been charged with engaging in sex acts "against the order of nature", said their lawyer, Ladislaus Rwakafuuzi. |
| Although Uganda has had anti-gay legislation since the colonial era, President Yoweri Museveni enacted a law in February that strengthened criminal penalties against gay sex. | Although Uganda has had anti-gay legislation since the colonial era, President Yoweri Museveni enacted a law in February that strengthened criminal penalties against gay sex. |
| Gay leaders report that scores of Ugandan homosexuals have gone underground or fled the country since the law was enacted. The law has been widely criticised in the west as draconian and unnecessary in a country where homosexuality has long been criminalised. | Gay leaders report that scores of Ugandan homosexuals have gone underground or fled the country since the law was enacted. The law has been widely criticised in the west as draconian and unnecessary in a country where homosexuality has long been criminalised. |
| In signing the bill, Museveni claimed he wanted to deter western groups from promoting homosexuality in the country. | |
| Some western countries have since withheld or cut aid to Uganda in protest, urging the country's legislators to repeal the law. | |
| Ugandan government officials have described western pressure over the bill as blackmail. | Ugandan government officials have described western pressure over the bill as blackmail. |