Police in Uganda have arrested two women accused of engaging in a same-sex act in public. The women were reportedly taken into custody on February 18 after community members informed police that they had seen the pair kissing.
According to police officials, the arrest was made under the country’s Anti-Homosexuality Act, a controversial law that criminalizes same-sex relationships. The law includes strict penalties for people accused of engaging in homosexual acts.
Reports indicate that the two women were first held in police custody until February 27. After briefly being released, they were reportedly arrested again shortly afterward. Authorities said they were suspected of “practicing homosexuality,” which remains illegal under current Ugandan law.
The Penal Code Act also criminalizes consensual same-sex relations in the country. These laws have been in place since colonial times but have been strengthened in recent years with new legislation.
Human rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, have criticized the arrests. They argue that the law has increased discrimination and violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. Activists say that many individuals now face harassment, extortion, and arbitrary arrest.
In 2024, Uganda’s Supreme Court of Uganda removed one section of the law that required citizens to report suspected same-sex relationships. However, other parts of the law remain in effect.
Human rights organizations are calling on authorities in Uganda to release the two women and review the laws that criminalize consensual same-sex relationships. They say governments should ensure equal protection under the law and prevent discrimination or abuse against any group of people.
The case has renewed debate within Uganda and internationally about human rights, national laws, and the protection of minority groups.
