COURT HALTS LESBIAN DEPORTATION

A British court has granted an eleventh-hour injunction temporarily suspending the deportation of a Ugandan lesbian.

Brenda Namiggade had already boarded a plane at Heathrow airport when she was informed that she could disembark and stay in the UK – at least for now. Reports say that she was shaking in fear.

The 29 year old student said that she fears for her life if she is returned home because of her sexuality.

Concerns about her safety were heightened this week following the brutal slaying of LGBT activist David Kato in Uganda.

The British authorities insist that in two previous court reviews of her case no evidence was presented that Namiggade is actually a lesbian and they were not swayed by a 30,000 strong petition urging the government to let her stay.

Her lawyer now says that even if her sexual orientation cannot be proved he will argue in court that Namiggade still faces danger in Uganda because of international media coverage that has identified her as gay.

“Whatever the circumstances surrounding Ms Namigadde’s presence in Britain, it is clear that she cannot be deported to Uganda at present,” shadow justice minister Andy Slaughter wrote in a letter to immigration minister Damian Green.

“Both the public mood and the official stance towards homosexuals in Uganda are lethal at the moment – we should not be contemplating sending my constituent back to a society where she will be in grave danger of her life,” he said.

Namiggade, who has been returned to a detention centre in Bedfordshire, will appear in court on Wednesday to argue her case for asylum.