charges dropped for three arrested ugandan activists

By Abeli Zahabu (BTM French Reporter)

UGANDA – August 15, 2008: The three lesbians, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) activists arrested during the HIV/ AIDS Implementers’ Conference in Uganda celebrate a resounding court victory.
 
In a surprisingly ten-minute long court session, Attorney-General overturned the case by throwing it out of court where the activists were arrested on alleged trespassing and forgery.

“As soon as the three activists were called in the witness box and stated theirs names, the attorney general announced that the charges have been dropped”, a Ugandan human rights activists, Kasha Jacqueline, recounted.

Jacqueline further explained that Attorney-General resolved to drop the charges because the state could not bring enough evidence that the activists trespassed. This outcome has been received with great jubilation among the human rights activists and defenders in Uganda.

The court victory is not only seen as the victory for the Ugandan LGBTI activists but it is considered as a gigantic step towards the recognition of all human rights. “The mood is very high here among LGBTI activists. We feel reinvigorated to have won this case. It brings us much hope for the future”, Jacqueline explained.

She continued that; “This victory is a big step for us. It’s an acknowledgment that LGBTI rights are intrinsically human rights. It will bring more support and further recognition for LGBTI community”.

Amid the jubilations brought by victory in the case, there is a sense of gloom for numerous pending cases in Uganda and many unanswered questions as to the intimidation and torture of the Ugandan activists.

The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) which was at the forefront of pushing the release of the three activists expressed great concern at the behaviour of the Ugandan authorities.

“We are cautiously pleased for this outcome. But we still ask why the three activists were arrested in the first place. We are greatly concerned at the behaviour of police towards LGBTI activists”, Carry Johnson, the IGLHRC African regional chair, complained.

According to the Ugandan activists as well as IGLHRC, the arrest (with lack of enough evidence), the torture of one of the activists and the subsequent dropping of the charges amount squarely to the ongoing intimidation and harassment of LGBTI and human rights defenders by the Ugandan authorities.