UGANDAN MAN GRANTED BAIL IN GAY SEX TRIAL

One of two men who will stand trial on charges of homosexuality in Uganda has finally been granted bail.

CNN reports that Jackson Mukasa, 26, was released on bail on Wednesday. He was able to meet the court’s conditions for bail, including an official confirmation of his residence.

The other accused, Hakim Mukisa, 19, has been unable to get his passport stamped by Kampala authorities to verify where he lives and remains in jail.

The two are set to be the first tried for having gay sex since the country’s recent Anti-Homosexuality Act was signed by President Museveni.

They, however, have not been charged under the new law and will be tried under the previously existing colonial era gay ban which nevertheless still has a penalty of life imprisonment.

The men were arrested in December last year after they were accused of “living as husband and wife” and have remained in Kampala’s Luziro prison since.

Mukasa is a vendor in the St Balikuddembe Market and Mukisa is a student. They have denied the homosexuality charges.

Their trial is set to start on June 12.

The new Anti-Homosexuality Act extends the ban on gay sex and also punishes repeat “offenders” and attempts by same-sex couples to marry with life imprisonment.

In addition, anyone who “aids, abets [or] counsels” a gay person and anyone who rents a home or room to a gay person could also be sentenced to seven years in jail. The bill further includes criminal penalties of five to seven years in prison for anyone who “promotes” homosexuality.